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Five Reasons to Watch the Oilers/Wild Game

November 30, 2011, 12:33 AM ET [ Comments]
Richard Cloutier
Edmonton Oilers Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
The Minnesota Wild are the best team in the history of hockey.

Do I sound convincing when I say that? I need to do a bit of a sales job on myself, because tomorrow is the series premier of Storage Wars Texas, but instead of watching that I'll be focusing on the Oilers/Wild game. Makes blogging easier when I actually watch the game before I write something.

As we all know, the Wild bring out the worst in the Oilers, and watching their games is often a snooze-fest. It's not so bad if the Oilers have the lead, because it forces the Wild to attempt offense instead of playing their "we don't trap" neutral ice style. But the Wild are great at causing turn-overs and finishing chances caused from turnovers. All things consider, I predict a bad night on the scoreboard for the Oilers; a team experiencing a pretty bad November when you look at the stats.

In an effort to raise my spirits before tomorrow night's game, I'll write out a list of compelling reasons to watch:

1. Andy Sutton will be back on defense. That means (likely) no more Colten Teubert blunders. If only we could get Corey Potter and Cam Barker back, the Oilers could get back to having six NHL-level defensemen in the line-up.

2. I look forward to seeing more of Sam Gagner. He almost seems like he's getting back to where he was last season. I'm 100% sure both he and Ales Hemsky won't be here by the end of the season, but I can't figure out which one will be dealt. If Gagner can keep playing well on the right wing, Hemsky becomes more available to deal. I keep thinking at some point Oilers management will get sick of their sub-par defense and will move a few serious players/picks/prospects to get someone of quality.

3. Magnus Paajarvi. With Taylor Hall being gone 2-4 weeks, and with Teemu Hartikainen, Josh Green and Linus Omark all injured on the farm, Maggy has a window of opportunity to play in the Top 6 and prove he belongs. Attempt #1 on Monday was a failure. Perhaps the Minnie game is when he finally gets a goal this season. We all know when he scores, the goals will start coming. Paajarvi has plenty of talent; he just has no confidence.

4. I'm interested to see if the Oilers can create emotion without Taylor Hall playing. Hall's style of play is reckless and a little nutty, but he brings so much emotion and enthusiasm to his team. Last game his absence was completely noticeable. Without Hall, someone needs to step up to inspire the team. Perhaps that person should be Hemsky; a veteran with all the tools needed to dominate offensively and to make huge plays.

5. Of course, there are the usual reasons to watch the Oilers: Nuge will get a point, Ryan Smyth will create chaos in front of the other team's net, Jordan Eberle will have a "sick hands" moment, Ladislav Smid will make a heroic block, and Lennart Petrell will throw countless hits. Even if the Oilers are more bad than good right now, this is not last-season's horribleness.

The Wild will be the Wild...Doesn't matter who the coach is or who's on the roster. I'm thinking Dany Heatley will do something that will make Oiler fans boo him, and Pierre-Marc Bouchard, who doesn't do much against any other team, will score two goals including the game winner.

I hate the Wild.
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