Sometimes I get lazy and write lists instead of blogs. Besides, yesterday's blog was a feel-good romp the whole family could enjoy. If I write things like that all the time, people will lose interest in me. Being great gets old fast.

Here's 20 things to consider before tonight's Oilers/Flames game:

1. The Flames are the NHL's Titantic. Players, like Cory Sarich and Jarome Iginla, look like they've headed for the life rafts. Iggy wants to win a cup in the next four seasons before he retires. They are the first two to ask for a deal. There will be several more before the season ends.

2. Speaking of Iggy, consider Jarome playing for the Oilers in the near future. Impossible, you say? I don't think it's impossible. Like I said, Iggy wants to win a cup before he retires, and he's loved in Edmonton (even though he's a Flame). He'd be a fan-favorite immediately, and he'd improve the team. The Oilers are one of the few teams with the prospect depth needed to make a viable offer to Calgary.

3. Speaking of the new Iginla if you will, Taylor Hall is still not 100% but he's going crazy wanting to get back into the line-up. I wouldn't rule him out of playing on Saturday. The Oilers miss Hall, as he's their "game-breaker". His reckless style opens up the ice for other players, and makes it so the Oilers have two dangerous offensive lines. If Ryan Jones can keep scoring, make that three offensive lines.

4. Was I imagining things when I saw Ales Hemsky land some serious hits against the Columbus Blue Jackets? Hemsky played motivated hockey for the first time this season. Hopefully the "real" Hemsky is back and is ready to contribute.

5. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins is the first rookie to win back-to-back Rookie of the Month awards since Evgeni Malkin. He also currently sits 5th in league scoring. Why do I get the feeling he's going to win the Art Ross trophy a few times during his career? He made another completely ridiculous pass, this time against Columbus to Jordan Eberle. We talk about Nuge's offensive ability, but he's underrated defensively. He makes countless steals during a game.

6. The Oilers have three players in the Top 10 of NHL scoring. Nuge has 11 goals and 17 assists. Eberle has 10 goals and 17 assists, and Smyth as 12 goals and 14 assists. Nuge is on pace to have an 88 point season, scoring 36 goals. Ridiculous.

7. Ryan Jones enjoyed his first career hat-trick against Columbus, and now has nine goals. He's on pace to score 28 goals this season. Okay, that's maybe a bit of a stretch, but 20 goals is certainly possible. The Oilers could have as many as five 20 goal scorers this season...Hall, Eberle, Nuge, Smyth and Jones. Six, if Ales Hemsky's game comes together. When is the last time the Oilers had six players with 20 goals or more?

8. If Shawn Horcoff had hands he'd be having an incredible season. He missed a couple of wide open nets against the Jackets. Currently he has 19 points, which is only eight back from what he scored all of last season. Consider everything else Horcs brings to the table, and suddenly, his contract looks only bad instead of terrible.

9. Yeah Darcy Hordichuk: Got into a fight, won it, inspired his team. Boo Darcy Hordichuk: Showing off after fight caused a two-minute penalty to occur. Oh well - The Oilers got Hordichuk to add mayheim, and mayheim he is bringing.

10. I'd say the Oilers should beat the stuffing out of the Flames, but Calgary has won, what, 14 of their last 15 against Edmonton? This one could go either way. It's not that the Flames have no talent; it's just a sinking ship that no one wants to play for anymore. And it's also a sinking ship that just lost their best two defenseman to injury, and only possesses one quality prospect in their system.

11. Speaking of Mark Giordano, he has ruptured tendons in his leg. Sounds like a season-ending injury to me. Even though Giordano is on the Flames and I therefore hate him, he's a good hockey player and it's sad to see a good guy get such a bad injury. Heal quick, dude.

12. Did you realize Raitis Ivanans is still on the IR list with a concussion from Steve MacIntyre's punch to the forehead last season? He broke his brain. Big Mac is a good guy, and I'm sure he feels bad about ending another guy's career.

13. Injury situation in Edmonton is so-so. Anton Lander should be able to play in the Flames game, although I'm not sure if anyone will come out of the roster from the team that won last game. Hall wants to play, but he likely will be kept out of it for another week still. No need to risk one of the Oilers Big Three till he's 100%. Defenseman Corey Potter is about a week away. Ben Eager is day-to-day with a bad back. Considering how Darcy Hordichuk is doing, Eager will need to get healthy before trying to win his roster spot back.

14. Nikolai Khabibulin will be in goal, and considering the mood of both teams, it could a tough, physical, defensive game. The Flames can't skate with the Oilers (well, Glencross, Bourque and Iggy can, but no one else) so they'll need to focus defensively which could make it a low-scoring game.

15. The Flames D is truly hurting as Anton Babchuk is also out. I like the thought of the Oilers forwards playing against a depleted blueline. If the Flames get behind early, the Oilers could have another 5 goal+ night.

16. Young Roman Horak might be a lone bright-spot for the Flames this season. The 20 year-old is a team-leading +4, and he has 7pts in 22 games.

17. How long until people in Calgary begin demanding a new rink. I've been to the Saddlesore, and actually like Rexall better, if that says anything.

18. How long does the clown show in Calgary continue before Jay Feaster is done and a veteran GM is brought in? Wait, a veteran GM that is not named Sutter nor is his related to a Sutter? Feaster won't last the season, and the thing that will kill him is when he deals Iggy and the fans lose it when they see what the return will be. Iggy is worth two mid-range young players and a 1st round pick. At his age and contract amount, that's it.

18. Cory Sarich is a deal is a 3rd pick. The Flames do have some reasonable assets to move off, but management would need to commit to a total rebuild. Feaster has yet to admit the problems are that bad and the future is that bleak.

19. We've had Ryan Smyth bobbleheads, Eberle mini-sticks and a mini Fuhr jersey. When are the Oilers gonna give out free fighting lessons with Dave Semenko?

20. Eric Belanger, Sam Gagner and Magnus Paajarvi = Still no goals this season. Sooner or later one is going to score. I'll give the nod to Gagner.

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