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Forgot About Dre (I Mean Hemsky) |
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The Nashville Predators did a great job on Tuesday shutting down the dynamic duo of Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Jordan Eberle.
Unfortunately for the Preds, they forgot about Hemsky.
Ales had a "career" evening: His first NHL hat-trick. You know, even though the Oilers are an awful team again this season, they have...what?...five hat tricks this season. How many other teams can say that?
Anyway, Ales got lucky on at least one of the goals, but he's been due. Everyone has been ripping him since he signed his contract extension, but in fairness, he's had the refs take away a few goals along the way that should have counted. For tonight, at least, Hemsky's $5mil per season new deal doesn't look like grand larceny.
What else can I say about the game that was?
- Pekka Rinne is a good goaltender who is terrible against the Oilers. How come players are like that...great against one team and terrible against another? Always puzzled me.
- The reason Ales Hemsky is playing better? Teemu Hartikainen. For a skilled guy like Hemsky to click, he needs room on the ice. Hartikainen is the big body Hemsky's line needed to open up room. If Oilers coaches don't see the obvious connection between Hartikainen and Hemsky's success, they are asleep at the switch. Harti/Gags/Hemmer should be the 2nd line to start next season.
- But with the discovery of the value of placing Hartikainen in the Oilers Top 6, what does that mean next season for Magnus Paajarvi? Here's a suggestion no one will like: Don't re-sign Ryan Smyth. Let the third line next season be Paajarvi/Horcoff/Jones. Smyth has looked absolutely gassed since the 40 game mark, and it's extremely concerning to me. Oilers might actually be a playoff team next season if they have legs for a full 82.
- Devan Dubnyk was good enough to win. I'm just surprised the Oilers are letting Dubey play as much as they are. Nice to see.
- Ummm, sorry, I need to say this...So Nikolai Khabibulin is having a mini-stick night next week. Will the mini-sticks look like goalie sticks, or the clear thingies you use to stir a martini.
I'm sorry; I'm sorry...It's just a joke.
- Speaking of "a joke"...the Graham James ruling. I'm pretty sure every Canadian threw up a little in their mouth when they heard James only got two years. I mean, why lock up a dangerous person who violates children when we could instead have him walking around on the street, where we can keep an eye on him? The legal system in this country has embarrassed me more than once, sad to say.
I'll stick to Oilers comments.
- Nashville fans...Seriously, it's a hockey game, not the WWE. What an eye sore that crowd was. They made absolutely clowns of themselves during the second period. Are you sure players want to play there? I mean, why?
- Here's a riddle for you: If a Lennart Petrell gets injured in the first period and misses the rest of the game, does he make a sound?
- Darcy Hordichuk scored. In other news, Michelle Obama went shopping at Target again.
- Renney Goes Ape Tit...Oilers 3-0-1 since the event. Connection? Perhaps.
- Lots of talk about on Twitter about what the Oilers could/should do at the NHL Draft. What's your opinion? At the rate things are going, the Oilers are going to play themselves out of the #2 draft spot. Actually, the standings are a big log jam. If the Oilers can catch #28, they could play themselves right out of the Top 5. It's not a bad thing. It's just a thing.
- From reading people's comments, most like the idea of the Oil taking defenseman Ryan Murray. I can't argue with that much. I think a forward is perhaps a safer pick, but if you're gonna take a d-man, Murray might be the safest choice.
Oilers get a day off, and then they do a Florida double-header against the Lightning and Panthers. It sounds like Taylor Hall should be back for the games.
Edmonton Oilers Blogger • 
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