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Old Guy, Other Old Guy, & Benched Guy Win

February 11, 2012, 6:08 PM ET [79 Comments]
Richard Cloutier
Edmonton Oilers Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
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Things didn't start out to be pretty for the Oilers during today's Edmonton/Ottawa game. After a bad shift, the Hall/Gagner/Eberle line was benched for most of the first period. After a few brilliant saves, Nikolai Khabibulin let in a laugher from the point. As usual, the old guys were out there constantly, and they weren't doing anything.

But then, a funny thing happened on the way to another Oilers loss. Players not named Hall, Eberle or Gagner decided to show up.

- Nikolai Khabibulin was heroic in next. Yes, he let in not one but two laughers from the point by the end of the game. But he did that after making 39 saves, many of ridiculous variety.

- Ales Hemsky had two assists on two brilliant plays. Hemsky can play when he wants to, and when he does, you wonder why the Oilers would ever deal him. Aside from having the puck on a string for much of the last two periods, Hemsky took a hit, was hurt, but came back out after a two minute pit stop. Good to see him take a hit and survive.

- Shawn Horcoff had three points. Yes, that Horcoff. He made a solid play to help create Taylor Hall's winning goal in OT.

- And Hall, who stunk most of the game, made an absolutely superstar play to get the winner. He's one of the scariest players in hockey when he gets some open ice.

- After a terrible first two periods, the Oilers D bounced back in the third period. Tom Gilbert was a good example of this. He's just returned from injury, so he's still finding his legs. Those seemed to reappear suddenly at the start of the third.

- Magnus Paajarvi finally got a goal, and he looked to have great chemistry with Hemsky and Horcoff. Imagine that: Paajarvi looks like a much better player when given an opportunity in the Top 6. Who would have thunk it?

- The Oilers 4th line was the second best Oilers line during the game. Ben Eager had his size and strength going, and Anton Lander's confidence continues to grow.

In case any of you wondered, the reason the vets are getting so much ice time right now is because it's hard for the Oilers to deal them without putting them on display. Hemsky, Belanger, Sutton and Khabibulin are all being shopped. The Oilers would also part with Smyth if he was willing to go, Petrell, Horcoff...maybe even Gilbert or Ryan Jones for the right return. It's a Sellers market this year at the trade deadline, and the Oilers know youth is the future.

Oilers fans (including me) were pretty angry with Oilers Coach Tom Renney's benching of the top line during the 1st period. The list of very strange coaching decisions in Edmonton continues to get longer. It appeared to me and others that the benching did much to demoralize the trio for the rest of the game.

I read comments regarding Hall's actions after he scored the winning goal. More specifically, he ignored a celebrating Ryan Whitney, skating past him pretending he wasn't even there, so he could go celebrate with other players. Taylor not happy with Whitney's cheeky jokes about him on Twitter? Hopefully we hear more about this story, if there is one to be told. Hall continues to look more and more like Messier every day...big heart, big plays, big temper.

And could the CBC have picked a worse play-by-play team to cover the game? Boring, disinterested, and at times, straight-out stupid. Comparing Hall to Mike Fisher? Seriously now. Thank God the Oilers game is done and I can watch something other than the Mats Sundin Leafs snooze-fest that is starting in about an hour. Are Leafs fans sure he's going to show up? I'd handcuff him to the building, because he might change his mind and go to Vancouver 20 minutes before the thing starts.

The Oilers next game isn't until next Wednesday, so don't be surprised if a deal or two is completely between now and then. An interesting quote from Sens GM Bryan Murray appeared today on the TSN website, stating certain teams that are Sellers are seeking a prospect + a 1st for a quality rental. You have to think Ales Hemsky falls into this, which tells me the Oilers haven't lowered their trade expectation at all, even though there is plenty of hate for Hemsky's game right now.
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