View Full Version : GDT - Edm vs Col (21/10)
Once again.. I gotta throw that must win word around.. in October :eek:
The skids gotta stop at some point, and as long as they can stop it here they only need a 3 game winning streak to make up for it. Very doable. Until that time rumors will swirl (Biron, Witt, Niinimaa). Smyth may be activated for tonight.
slapshot™
10-21-05, 8:04 PM
Oil suck right now...but the Avs suck more.
Sounds like Smyth is going to play... more than 15:00 would surpise me quite a bit though.
KB in Kelowna
10-21-05, 9:56 PM
soften them up for us, I am sure the Canucks will return the favour later;)
Hear that smacking sound?
That's me after putting back 4 beers over just over a period and smacking my head into the wall.
Man.Utd
10-21-05, 11:42 PM
7-0 Colorado with a period to go. In Edmonton. Don't be surprised if things start to get ugly. Teams don't like it when the score gets run up on them in their own barn.
7-0 Colorado with a period to go. In Edmonton. Don't be surprised if things start to get ugly. Teams don't like it when the score gets run up on them in their own barn.
Laraque already beat the bejesus out of May.
We're down 7-0...
... and Progner is even :laughing: :rollover:
Daryl Shilling
10-22-05, 1:22 AM
I took a little look at some stats at nhl.com, and the Oilers have indeed been horrible in their ratio of Takeaways to Giveaways in the last number of games.
In their first three games, which they won, the Oilers had 35 Takeaways to 53 Giveaways (66%), which is right at the average since RTSS stats were tracked (68.6%). Since the Oilers went on their losing skid, they've only been getting 37.7% the numbers of Takeaways than they Giveaway.
It's pretty difficult to have half the ratio of Giveaways to Takeaways and win hockey games.
Daryl
My head hurts.
*Throws back another shot of Woodford Reserve.*
:curse:
slapshot™
10-22-05, 5:10 PM
Right now.....I'm embarrassed to say I'm an Oiler fan.
TimmyTabasco
10-22-05, 9:47 PM
Do you think its time for a goalie change?
I've read the rumours on Kolzig, and Biron
But, what do you guys think about all that talk, and if its fair to place the blame on the tender(s)
Canadian26
10-23-05, 3:43 AM
Do you think its time for a goalie change?
I've read the rumours on Kolzig, and Biron
But, what do you guys think about all that talk, and if its fair to place the blame on the tender(s)
I didnt actually watch this game, but from the past few games its not Jussi thats really been the problem. Its been our d-men and our poor coverage in our own end. Like give aways in our zone... It seems that the oilers play has been choppy at best, there seems to be little flow to start the games off. This game has to be a reality check, if it isnt I dont know what will be... Lets just say it couldnt have been worse (knock on wood)
Daryl Shilling
10-23-05, 9:19 AM
Do you think its time for a goalie change?
I've read the rumours on Kolzig, and Biron
But, what do you guys think about all that talk, and if its fair to place the blame on the tender(s)
The league-average SV% has dropped from .912 in 2004, to .898 so far (6436 shots, 7167 saves league-wide). Markkanen has been a little bit over average so far (.902), but Conklin has been abysmal (.836), and has been the worst "starting" goaltender in the NHL this year. Who knows if he'll keep the job, as MacTavish seems to be favoring Markkanen more and more.
Kolzig makes about $5M, which is pretty expensive for a guy that is generally going to be right around average, or a little above, a little below. They can get at least average out of Markkanen, and for $4M less. Biron is pretty much the same story, but he makes a little over $2M.
With Kolzig, the salary seems prohibitive; the Oilers would really need to get something in addition, in the deal, to make it worthwhile. With Biron, a straight swap for Markkanen would be a lateral move at best.
For Conklin, the Oilers would probably take what they can get.
Daryl
Canadian26
10-23-05, 5:01 PM
I wouldnt give up on Conks yet... he just had a few bad games this season... Im sure we all remember when Jussi first started as well he wasnt excatlly stellar. I think Conks definatly has potential to be the Number one guy as well... he played great for Team USA. I think he still deserves another chance...
TimmyTabasco
10-23-05, 5:58 PM
Forget about Kolzig, and Biron
The Oilers should try for Denis. This is a guy who can face alot of shots, and could win big on a better team.
Forget about Kolzig, and Biron
The Oilers should try for Denis. This is a guy who can face alot of shots, and could win big on a better team.
Denis is the only guy I'd want who could be available.. but it depends what Columbus wants in return.
Really, if the Oilers make a trade right now that makes them a better team, I can only see 3 players that we'd trade.. one of Torres, Hemsky or Schremp. I'd much rather suffer a bit right now and see those guys in Oilers jerseys for years to come.
TimmyTabasco
10-23-05, 7:14 PM
Denis is the only guy I'd want who could be available.. but it depends what Columbus wants in return.
Really, if the Oilers make a trade right now that makes them a better team, I can only see 3 players that we'd trade.. one of Torres, Hemsky or Schremp. I'd much rather suffer a bit right now and see those guys in Oilers jerseys for years to come.
Yeah, I'd think Columbus would want some offense in return.
But you have to remember..Denis would be VERY good for the Oilers.
Yeah, I'd think Columbus would want some offense in return.
But you have to remember..Denis would be VERY good for the Oilers.
He would, but for the time being I'd rather not lose more scoring to get slightly better tending.
Lets say Markkanen can finish with a .910 SV%. Elite would be somwhere around .930 SV%.. Denis would be maybe .920 SV% in an Oiler uniform. Is 1% more saves worth losing 20 goals?
Having said that, if we could somehow pry Berard and Denis from Columbus for a deal built around Semenov and picks.. I'd be very intrigued.
Count that mad money
Lowe says there will be changes, but not based on Friday's debacle
By TERRY JONES
Kevin Lowe has some "mad money."
But as mad as he is right now and as infuriated as Edmonton Oiler fans may be, Lowe isn't ready to kick his dog and go out and spend it yet.
"Last August we knew we'd want to add something,'' said the GM of the money he left himself under the Oilers' budget with the new collective bargaining agreement and the new NHL salary cap.
"We knew we'd be able to add something during the season. We didn't know if it would be defence or to add goal scoring.''
The idea, he admits, was to wait a while longer, let the hockey team settle to get a complete and accurate reading, and make the right decisions.
"You don't want to make moves based on a game like we just watched,'' he said of the 7-1 debacle against the Colorado Avalanche.
"We will make changes,'' said Lowe.
"But we won't make them based on a game like that. That team wasn't our true team. You want to see the true team and find out what it really needs.
"You don't want to make a four-for-four deal because of a losing streak and what happened Friday night and make a bad deal. You don't want to mortgage the next couple of years to fix something right now.''
TEMPER TANTRUMS
The last thing he wants to do is blow his mad money on a temper tantrum.
Lowe is going to give this team Tuesday's game in Colorado to see how they handle coming off the embarrassment, but is ready to do a shake-up move or two if he doesn't see what he wants to see.
Lowe returned my call and asked my first question for me when I picked up the phone before I even asked it.
"What am I, the manager, going to do?''
His team on a six-game losing streak. They just soiled the sheets at home. They're heading on the road for 10 of the next 11. The goaltenders are in the toilet. The power play is now ranked No. 21 in the league and penalty killing is No. 23.
And the savvy fans from the Heartland of Hockey don't want to hear "steady as she goes'' when it's going this bad.
They might settle with a human sacrifice, but the human would probably have to be Craig Simpson.
"I don't like fans to see what they saw Friday night.
''The team came totally unglued,'' said Lowe. "I think the players know that at some point here we'd have to do something to stop the bleeding.''
It's not like there aren't moves to be made.
I mean, every novice and atom coach in town knows they need a goaltender and a goal scorer and have for two years.
"Some experts questioned our goaltending. Nobody expected what we saw last night,'' Lowe said of Jussi Markkanen joining Ty Conklin with a league-leading "sieve'' percentage.
"What was questioned was if we had a guy to take us deeper into the playoffs.''
Lowe, I know, is talking to a lot of teams right now. I think he knows that he's gambled and lost on the two goaltenders turning into a credible tandem coming back from Markkanen's year in Russia and Conklin's great games at the World Hockey Championships. Stay tuned.
For the rest of it, most fans would have rather seen coach Craig MacTavish keep the kids they saw at training camp than come back trying to teach old dogs new tricks in the new NHL.
Now there's at least the beginning of a fear here that Chris Pronger and Mike Peca are old dogs, too.
IF THEY'D KEPT SCHREMP ...
You can't help but wonder if the power play would be so brutal if they'd kept Robbie Schremp to play the half boards for the first 10 games before they had to send him back to junior - if indeed he would have been sent back to junior.
It's hard to believe he could look any worse than most of these guys have looked lately.
Now they can only bring Schremp up in an emergency situation.
And no, the NHL doesn't think a six-game losing streak is an emergency situation.
As for bringing up the likes of Yan Stastny, Marc-Antoine Pouliot and Dan Syvret, Lowe hinted he might if the team doesn't turn this around - now.
But he doesn't want to.
"I want them to get better by playing before they get the call,'' he said.
"But if we don't do well Tuesday, there's a shorter leash in bringing the young guys up.''
Lowe may have to spend his mad money sooner than later or the fans will be screaming for a coach and general manager instead of for a goalie and a centre.This was the only non-Leafs hockey article in today's Toronto Sun, but of course it originates from the Edmonton Sun (http://www.edmontonsun.com/Sports/Columnists/Jones_Terry/2005/10/23/1275165-sun.html).
We'll see how they do Tuesday night on the road.
Just to further point out that Markkanen has been fine..
His current SV% is .902
That's 15th among goalies with atleast 4GP at this point, and above notables like Martin Brodeur, Kiprusoff, Raycroft, Kolzig, Cloutier, Turco, Belfour, Theodore, Esche, Nabokov and Khabibulan.
Canadian26
10-26-05, 1:52 AM
Tough game tonight, I guess when your losing you dont get things going your way. Less than the min left in the game, and a flukey game tieing goal.
Edmonton looks alot better on the Ice IMO, they're more cohesive and they seemed to have more jump today. Its nice to see MacT bench Igor as an example, because mistakes that can cost you games...
Hopefully edmonton can build from this and come out flying next game...
slapshot™
10-26-05, 10:37 AM
I dream of the day that the Oil come flying out of the gate and dominate a game from the opening faceoff until the final buzzer.
6 minutes from a win and they blow it. Wow.
Missed the entire game as I was at my own.. sounded like another game full of "whoudda "shoudda" and "coudda".
Maybe its time to can MacT, as much as I love him I think it is time to move out and away from this holy mess.
There has been one constant with regards to Edmonton and all of the missed playoffs and losing, and that constant has been MacT.
Canadian26
10-27-05, 12:48 AM
Maybe its time to can MacT, as much as I love him I think it is time to move out and away from this holy mess.
There has been one constant with regards to Edmonton and all of the missed playoffs and losing, and that constant has been MacT.
Maybe that would be a move... any ideas of possible head coaches? I dont think Lowe is actually looking that way just yet, although 7 straight losses has got to make one wonder....
Hopefully Rick Ley will be available soon ;)
Maybe that would be a move... any ideas of possible head coaches? I dont think Lowe is actually looking that way just yet, although 7 straight losses has got to make one wonder....
Ted Nolan comes to mind, maybe even Acton. Point is MacT is not getting through to the players heads, and driving the bag at practices is not the solution as far as I am concerned. Don't get me wrong I have always had a soft spot for MacT, but it is becoming all to clear that he is not getting it done, and its time for a change.
Lowe is showing a lot of confidance in a good buddy who has not delivered, and it is most likely going to kill MacT's career behind the bench.
Another one of the huge problems which has been touched on by a few others including yours truly, your goalies have been dismal since Cujo left for supposed greener pastures.
Newfie John
10-27-05, 4:38 PM
What about Lowe behind the bench?
slapshot™
10-27-05, 6:48 PM
Ted Nolan comes to mind, maybe even Acton.
The Leafs don't need/want Acton? You are referring to Keith Acton, aren't you?
Why is it, that whenever a coaching change is suggested, Nolan's name eventually (and with you, Rusty; always!) comes up? The guy hasn't coached in the NHL since '95 when he was blackballed from the League by Muckler.
Nolan should be in one of those, "where is he now?" threads.
Let's get Scotty Bowman to come out of retirement. That sounds more plausable than Nolan.
Back to the real issue at hand....should MacT be skidded? I dunno, but if the Oil don't win against Dallas on Friday I think that may be a very real possibility.
Why shouldn't Nolan's name come up, he would be a better fit in Edmonton then MacT.
I just through out Acton's name.
Canadian26
10-27-05, 11:55 PM
Lowe behind the bench wouldnt be a bad idea, but I like having him as a GM. I also like MacT, but rusty's right he hasnt excatlly been getting much done behing the bench. I dont think trading players right now is going to fix the problem either.
Nolan is plausable, but I have to agree with Slappy he hasnt coached for almost 10yrs now, thats a long time to be out of the NHL.
If oilers loose im the Dallas, some sort of a major change will need to be made. I would like to see which route Lowe goes for, trading aplayer or hiring a new coach.
For the goalie comment, Jussi hasnt been bad for us in net at all. His GAA and save % are good, and above some of the goalies that we would consider "good". I think its more of a problem infront of jussi, there are players that tend to be defensive labilites, and during this losing streak you see the Oilers do a number of stupid things... like lazy passes, and untimely penalties that can be avioded. I think this streak, is more of a discipline issue rather than a Goalie issue... Discipline should first come from the coaching staff... one of the things I liked last game that MacT did was bench Igor as an example... I would like to see how edmonton responds agianst dallas. This game could pretty much determine if lowe makes a move or not.
MacT bag skated the team for 50 minutes today...
After a video session chronicling all of their stupid, game-wasting blunders, MacTavish had each player take two pucks and line up along the south goal line. He had them race with one puck to the near blue-line, drop it off, race back to the goal line for the other puck, take it to the far blue-line and drop it off, race back to the south goal line, then back to the near blue-line to retrieve the first puck, back to the south goal line to drop it off, back to the far blue-line for the other puck and, finally, back to the goal line.
Over and over and over. No breaks. No water.
For 22 straight minutes.
"That was to teach about getting the pucks over our own blue-line and getting them deep at the other team's blue-line," said Pronger.
Then, after a quick sip, they skated hard laps for 15 minutes. Then they divided into groups and did sprints back and forth across the faceoff circles, no coasting, just three quick strides, hammer on the breaks, three quick strides, hammer on the breaks. For seven straight leg-burning minutes.
Then it was goal line to goal line to goal line to goal line until the ice surface was ankle deep in shavings.
Hopefully he got his message across.
"We were doing a lot of good things right in the first three games," said Pronger. "Playing with a lot of intensity, playing smart, getting the puck out at the line, getting it in at their line and using our forecheck, which is the cornerstone of our team... we were doing that in the first three games and it's gone now.
"We have to get back to the team that we know we can be. We've shown signs at times in every game that we can do it. It's just being consistent."
Instead of consistently bad.
"You just know that our situation is:what can go wrong will go wrong unless you play a smart game," said MacTavish.
"If you give the opposition opportunity, bad things are going to happen. We're going to have to play a complete, smart game. We better get that capability or it's going to be over before we know it."
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