PDO
1-04-06, 7:45 PM
Oilers flirt with 100-point
By DAN CARLE
EDMONTON (CP) - The previously small-market Edmonton Oilers are proving to be a big-time player in the revamped NHL.
"It is becoming more and more obvious that we have a number of ingredients that we haven't had in previous years," said Oilers coach Craig MacTavish, whose club has turned heads by earning 50 points through 41 games to sit two points behind Calgary in the Northwest Division.
With a mix of established stars like Chris Pronger and Ryan Smyth and emerging young talent in Jarret Stoll, Shawn Horcoff and Ales Hemsky, Edmonton (23-14-4) is in line for its first 100-point season since Wayne Gretzky won his last Stanley Cup with the Oilers in 1987-88.
"We're only halfway done," said Stoll, a second-year centre and one of three Oilers having a career year with 40 points, joining leading scorer Horcoff (41) and linemate Hemsky (39). "We've had a great first (half), but those don't mean anything if you miss the playoffs."
Fernando Pisani is also enjoying unprecedented success, having already set a career-high with 13 goals after scoring twice in the second period of the Oilers' 5-0 home win over Chicago on Tuesday.
MacTavish says the young charges are making the most of their opportunities.
"They are getting a sniff of how successful they can be," he said, adding the play of Stoll has been the most surprising. The native of Melville, Sask., has played in every situation throughout the season, an indication of how much confidence MacTavish has in the 23-year-old.
"He's come a great distance and is going to be a real star at this level," MacTavish said. "There is nothing that he can't do.
"You don't get those types of players that often, and we've got a few of them."
The Oilers, winners of seven of their last 10 games, have a three-day break before hosting the Toronto Maple Leafs Saturday (TV, 7 p.m. ET) as part of Hockey Day in Canada.
"I wouldn't want to be a defenceman playing against our team because we skate so well and we work so hard," said Oilers forward Ethan Moreau. "There is no reason why we shouldn't be able to take a run at this."
Newcomers Pronger, a former Norris Trophy winner, and Peca, who won two Selke trophies as the NHL's best defensive forward, have been steadying forces in a dressing room that could have cracked during a seven-game losing streak in October.
"Pronger has been unreal," said MacTavish. "He gets better and better, and you appreciate him more the more you see him."
Peca only has five goals at the mid-point of the season, but the gritty centre is among the NHL leaders in face-off percentage. The 31-year-old Toronto native said his only wish before retirement is to
win a Stanley Cup in a Canadian city.
"I think you're really starting to see the belief that we can accomplish that," Peca said.
With the forwards firing and defence solid, goaltending may be the Oilers' only weak spot. The team is carrying three netminders, but after a 23-save performance from Ty Conklin for the team's first shutout win of the year on Tuesday, it looks as if rookie third-stringer Mike Morrison may be the odd man out.
"I'm not going to say what the timing is (for a roster move)," MacTavish said.
After rallying for four straight come-from-behind victories in December, the confident Oilers believe they can make a run in the playoffs.
"Sure, we have weaknesses, but they are not very big ones," Stoll said.
I seem to remember predicting home-ice in the playoffs for this team back in September. :boogie:
By DAN CARLE
EDMONTON (CP) - The previously small-market Edmonton Oilers are proving to be a big-time player in the revamped NHL.
"It is becoming more and more obvious that we have a number of ingredients that we haven't had in previous years," said Oilers coach Craig MacTavish, whose club has turned heads by earning 50 points through 41 games to sit two points behind Calgary in the Northwest Division.
With a mix of established stars like Chris Pronger and Ryan Smyth and emerging young talent in Jarret Stoll, Shawn Horcoff and Ales Hemsky, Edmonton (23-14-4) is in line for its first 100-point season since Wayne Gretzky won his last Stanley Cup with the Oilers in 1987-88.
"We're only halfway done," said Stoll, a second-year centre and one of three Oilers having a career year with 40 points, joining leading scorer Horcoff (41) and linemate Hemsky (39). "We've had a great first (half), but those don't mean anything if you miss the playoffs."
Fernando Pisani is also enjoying unprecedented success, having already set a career-high with 13 goals after scoring twice in the second period of the Oilers' 5-0 home win over Chicago on Tuesday.
MacTavish says the young charges are making the most of their opportunities.
"They are getting a sniff of how successful they can be," he said, adding the play of Stoll has been the most surprising. The native of Melville, Sask., has played in every situation throughout the season, an indication of how much confidence MacTavish has in the 23-year-old.
"He's come a great distance and is going to be a real star at this level," MacTavish said. "There is nothing that he can't do.
"You don't get those types of players that often, and we've got a few of them."
The Oilers, winners of seven of their last 10 games, have a three-day break before hosting the Toronto Maple Leafs Saturday (TV, 7 p.m. ET) as part of Hockey Day in Canada.
"I wouldn't want to be a defenceman playing against our team because we skate so well and we work so hard," said Oilers forward Ethan Moreau. "There is no reason why we shouldn't be able to take a run at this."
Newcomers Pronger, a former Norris Trophy winner, and Peca, who won two Selke trophies as the NHL's best defensive forward, have been steadying forces in a dressing room that could have cracked during a seven-game losing streak in October.
"Pronger has been unreal," said MacTavish. "He gets better and better, and you appreciate him more the more you see him."
Peca only has five goals at the mid-point of the season, but the gritty centre is among the NHL leaders in face-off percentage. The 31-year-old Toronto native said his only wish before retirement is to
win a Stanley Cup in a Canadian city.
"I think you're really starting to see the belief that we can accomplish that," Peca said.
With the forwards firing and defence solid, goaltending may be the Oilers' only weak spot. The team is carrying three netminders, but after a 23-save performance from Ty Conklin for the team's first shutout win of the year on Tuesday, it looks as if rookie third-stringer Mike Morrison may be the odd man out.
"I'm not going to say what the timing is (for a roster move)," MacTavish said.
After rallying for four straight come-from-behind victories in December, the confident Oilers believe they can make a run in the playoffs.
"Sure, we have weaknesses, but they are not very big ones," Stoll said.
I seem to remember predicting home-ice in the playoffs for this team back in September. :boogie: