|
Oilers and 'Canes Set to Break Wind Tonight |
|
|
|
|
|
Add me on Twitter if you haven't already: @rdcloutier
Hey, so here's a bunch of reasons to watch the Oilers/Hurricanes game tonight:
Superkids
The Oilers have Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, and the 'Canes have last-season's Nuge, Jeff Skinner. I'd also be promoting Taylor Hall in tonight's game, but it looks like he'll continue to be out. Hall wants to be playing, but the Oilers are exercising caution with his injury situation. For now, he continues to be on the IR. They could activate him at some point today, but it doesn't seem likely.
Horcoff, Lander and Eager In
Shawn Horcoff was on the receiving end of a brutal cross-check to the ribs from Calgary's Jay "Don't Call Me Feaster" Bouwmeester on Saturday and has bruised ribs because of it. Still, it looks like Horcoff will play tonight. Two players who have missed action, Anton Lander and Ben Eager, are scheduled to return to the lineup.
Lines, Lines, Everywhere There's Lines
So all things considered, I suggest the Oilers line-up will look like this tonight:
L1: Smyth - Nugent-Hopkins - Eberle
L2: Jones - Horcoff - Hemsky
L3: Paajarvi - Belanger - Gagner
L4: Eager - Lander - Petrell
Perhaps Jones, Paajarvi and Gagner could be moved around this list. I'm not sure what management is thinking, as Gagner looks to be going now, but he plays center or the right side.
Since it's a game against a lower-ranking team, the Oilers could experiment. I'd like to see Gagner take a turn at center on the first line, and to have Lander play the right side instead. Make it more look like this, just to see what happens.
L1: Smyth - Gagner - Hemsky
L2: Paajarvi - Nugent-Hopkins - Eberle
L3: Jones - Horcoff - Petrell
L4: Eager - Belanger - Lander
That seems a little more balanced to me. You have pretty players with other pretty players, and grinders with grinders. The Jones/Horcoff/Petrell line would be hella good as a shutdown grouping. Maybe red-hot Nuge and Eberle could get Paajarvi going? Here's hopin'. I feel bad for Paajarvi this season, because there isn't a more likable guy on the Oilers roster. I want him to succeed!
While We're Changing Things Up...
Can we take Eric Belanger off the powerplay now? Please? Paajarvi needs to get going. The lines I've suggested above; almost use those. For the first group, put Gilbert and Whitney on the point. For the second, play Smid and Paajarvi on the point, and move Horcoff on to the line. Whatever you do, just get Belanger out of there. He's for defense, not for scoring.
See a Future Oiler in Action
It could be scout-central tonight at the game. The 'Canes could use another Top 6 forward, and they have a defenseman they could sacrifice to obtain one. As we all know, the Oilers need another puck-moving Top 4 Dman desperately. I've been writing about the potential for a deal between these two teams all season.
I am cheering for the Oilers to acquire Jaime McBain. Aside from being the type of player they'd like to add, I just like his name. "McBain". The Simpson clips every time he'd do something cool on the ice would have Rexall rocking.
It is possible Ales Hemsky could end up in Carolina. They need a potential impact forward, and the Oilers have yet to re-sign him. All indications from the team so far have been that Hemsky will be moved on or before the trade deadline, unless he catches fire and the Oilers look like a serious playoff team...which they really don't at this time. The Hurricanes would most certainly offer Hemmer a long-term deal if given the opportunity. Hemsky for McBain sounds about right to me with respect to equal trade values (Hemsky is perhaps the better talent, but McBain is younger and has a better injury history).
Staal? Ward? Who Are These Guys?
Eric Staal has had a terrible season so far, and Cam Ward's numbers don't reflect how good of a goalie he is. Ward is from Edmonton, and returning players have this annoying habit of standing on their head when they visit. Look for Staal to get a point or two and Ward to attempt to steal the show.
Bounce Back?
A number of interesting sub-plots for the Oilers tonight. Nikolai Khabibulin's numbers have dropped off considerably since the first 10 games of the season. Can the Oilers provide him the defense needed to get his numbers back? It certainly isn't Nikky's play that has been the issue.
Ryan Whitney isn't playing well and is in pain. Can he find a way to play through it and get his play up to the level it was from the beginning of last season?
Jeff Petry has really struggled and has made game-losing blunders. If he isn't ready to be a star, can he at least play at an NHL-worthy level?
Can Belanger and Paajarvi finally score? Can Theo Peckham avoid taking a horrible penalty in the third period for once? Will Andy Sutton make another sweet dangle that shocks us all? Will Nuge's line continue to get completely owned in the Oilers defensive zone? Will Oilers coaches demonstrate a little open-mindedness with respect to shuffling the lines and making adjustments that recognize the skills and talents certain players bring to the rink?
Enjoy the game!
Edmonton Oilers Blogger • 
Join the Discussion:
»