The Oilers are becoming a very good hockey team. Wanna know how I know? Good teams always find a way to win.
Here's some Good, Bad and Ugly action for you regarding the Oilers/Capitals game:
The Good
- Nikolai Khabibulin was ridiculous once again. This game should have been a 6-2 win for Washington. During one Caps power-play alone, Khabby made four incredible saves. I haven't seen him play this well since his early days in Tampa. In case you're wanting to keep track, his GAA is still below 1.00 (0.97) and his Save Percentage after six games is .964.
- The Oilers power-play was good. Two goals, and more brilliance from the Nugent-Hopkins, Hall, Eberle line.
- The Oilers penalty killing was as good as the power-play was. The Oilers took six minor penalties in the game, and the Caps scored no goals on the PK. Well done.
- Isn't it nice for the Oilers to have some depth this season? I know only The Slick Line (today's name of the day for Nuge, Eberle and Hall) is putting up offense, but at least the rest of the team is doing their part defensively. Strong at the face-off dot again tonight, too.
- Corey Potter brought offense. Ladislav Smid brought defense. Both had a great night. Actually, all the D aside from Theo Peckham had a strong game.
The Bad
- So let's start with Peckham. He just isn't good enough out there. Can't skate, can't pass the puck...he was terrible and I can just about bet my entire $12.50 life savings that he won't be in the line-up again for a while. Word is, Jeff Petry will be called up and will play in Denver tomorrow.
- The "no offense from anyone else" thing is going to catch up to the Oilers eventually. I think it's time Oilers Coach Tom Renney moved a few pieces around, just to see what will happen. Try Sam Gagner with Smyth and Horcoff. Bring back Linus Omark, and put him with Lander and Paajarvi. Move Belanger and Jones on to a line with Petrell. The only line I'd keep together right now is Nuge/Eberle/Hall.
- I seriously can't think of anything else bad to say. The Oilers just beat the best team in the league this season, and the only team that was, before tonight, still undefeated. Live it up, boys: It's party time!
The Ugly
- A few ugly moments out there. There were stretches when the Oilers looked like an AHL team and Washington was skating circles around them. The Oil need to stop going so far into a defensive shell in third periods. Protecting a lead is fine, but you can't only score two goals every game and expect to keep winning more than losing.
- Did those of you watching the game brace yourself when Eric Belanger tripped and fell face-first into the path of a slapshot? I thought for sure he was going to get decapitated. Very dangerous play.
- The late penalty call on the Andy Sutton hit was awful, but there is a lesson to be learned from it: If you want to draw penalties, duck when you know you're about to get hit. Sutton didn't target the Caps player's head at all. Bogus call.
- I don't know if I'd say this is more "ugly" than just plain embarrassing: Why won't the Oilers brass just come out and say Nuge is here for the season? Why act like there is a mystery here? Don't be stupid, folks. Obviously the Oilers need him. He's the leading scorer on the team. They'll kill his confidence completely and they'd freak out the fan-base if they sent him back to Junior now.
The Oilers next action is tomorrow night against the Colorado Avalanche. Devan Dubnyk was suppose to get the start, but I won't be surprised if Khabby is in again. The boy is on a roll. Peckham should be out, and word is Linus Omark should draw back in, as the Oil need more offense.
Someone sent me a Twitter message tonight saying there were 16 scouts at the game. Hmmm...the tricky thing about the whole "scouts are in the building" thing is, their presence could mean anything. Teams playing upcoming games against the Caps and Oilers could be there to check out the opposition. Scouts could be there to see assets that have been made available, but in saying that, there is no indication of which team has something to offer.
For all we know, an Alex Ovechkin deal is in the making. Don't read too much into the "scouts are there" business. I'd be more interested to know which teams the Oilers scouts are visiting, as that might be more indicative of any potential moves in the future.
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