Probably since an 8-2 thrashing from the Rangers last year. completely flat. Tonight you could at the very least see an effort. I think they got lucky, but hey I'm happy they got a win.
- marty11

This was the kind of win you guys were going nutso over in October.

People can female dog all they want about how the Oilers aren't much better in the standings, but compared to last year they're more competitive on a nightly basis by leaps and bounds. At least you see them in games a lot right now where as last season you had them out of it routinely by the time the 2nd period started it seemed.

Probably since an 8-2 thrashing from the Rangers last year. completely flat. Tonight you could at the very least see an effort. I think they got lucky, but hey I'm happy they got a win.
- marty11

I think the biggest difference was a team defense, not great defense mind you, but a team effort. That and eberle and hall getting more icetime and getting healthier

This was the kind of win you guys were going nutso over in October.

People can female dog all they want about how the Oilers aren't much better in the standings, but compared to last year they're more competitive on a nightly basis by leaps and bounds. At least you see them in games a lot right now where as last season you had them out of it routinely by the time the 2nd period started it seemed.
- DTF69

I think we were going nutso over any kind of win and I will continue to do so. When the team buys in to defence we can play with most any team, its not always pretty but atleast keep it close. I think this year that should be all we really ask for is close competitive games.

I think we were going nutso over any kind of win and I will continue to do so. When the team buys in to defence we can play with most any team, its not always pretty but atleast keep it close. I think this year that should be all we really ask for is close competitive games.
- abware

And you're getting that a lot of nights. You're going to be outmatched a lot when most of your defence would split time between a bottom pairing and the pressbox on a playoff team. But at least the games are within range. Last year I remember even a 1 goal deficit after a period was insurmountable because the team just couldn't compete then by the second it was 2 or 3 goals down.

The effort won't be there every night. Thats just part of hockey. The Canucks come out a suck a lot of nights, but still get wins frequently. Why? They're a top team and top teams win games they shouldn't all the time. The Flames suck a lot of nights, but they keep themselves competitive and manage to get more wins than they should from those efforts. The Oilers are a bad team so those efforts are glaring since the just "natural" ability to play isn't there, but thats just part of the way the bigwigs want to develop going forward.

I'd like to see Dubnyk start again tonight. While he did take a lot of shots he didn't have to make a lot of tough ones. With that being said it's good to see that he wasn't letting those weak ones that he usually does as there were about 35 weak shots yesterday.

Have you already forgotten how well khabby played against the blues? And yes I remember how poor he was against calgary
- abware

Honestly we have to be getting to the point where we start riding Dubnyk. He may or may not be the future of this club and eventually we have to see what he does with back to backs and playing 5-6 straight. Even if Bulin is the better goalie now, which is up for debate he definetely isn't the future of this team.

Honestly we have to be getting to the point where we start riding Dubnyk. He may or may not be the future of this club and eventually we have to see what he does with back to backs and playing 5-6 straight. Even if Bulin is the better goalie now, which is up for debate he definetely isn't the future of this team.
- Lahey

I agree, it's just funny how soon some forget a game 4 or 5 days ago where khabby was great and only remember his last bad outing. Gotta love selective memory.

I agree, it's just funny how soon some forget a game 4 or 5 days ago where khabby was great and only remember his last bad outing. Gotta love selective memory.
- abware

Being pulled the game before and after one good game tends to do that.

Honestly we have to be getting to the point where we start riding Dubnyk. He may or may not be the future of this club and eventually we have to see what he does with back to backs and playing 5-6 straight. Even if Bulin is the better goalie now, which is up for debate he definetely isn't the future of this team.
- Lahey

yup. time to ride him a bit and see if he does better when given more starts, like last year.

So Strudwick commented on Hall's reaction the other day, refrencing one of the top leaders in NHL history who is probably the best comparable for Hall in terms of passion and style of play and really who we all hope Hall develops into:

I was lucky to play with Mark Messier early in my career. I learnt more from him than any other player or coach about being a pro. This included getting prepared to play, treatment of staff and team mates and emotion. He played with a lot of it but he handled it well so as to never show the other team if he was frustrated. He felt that is so important for players to keep frustration and dirty laundry in house

So Strudwick commented on Hall's reaction the other day, refrencing one of the top leaders in NHL history who is probably the best comparable for Hall in terms of passion and style of play and really who we all hope Hall develops into:
- Zombie

cant let go of it eh?

cant let go of it eh?
- GuyLaDouche

Not when the answer is so blatently obvious yet people still insist on putting their heads in the sand.

So Strudwick commented on Hall's reaction the other day, refrencing one of the top leaders in NHL history who is probably the best comparable for Hall in terms of passion and style of play and really who we all hope Hall develops into:
- Zombie

+1

Not when the answer is so blatently obvious yet people still insist on putting their heads in the sand.
- Zombie

No one really gives a (frank) because we have bigger issues at this point.

No one really gives a (frank) because we have bigger issues at this point.
- Lahey

Like Timmy Thomas missing the white house

Like Timmy Thomas missing the white house
- Zombie

Ugh.

should sign tamby to a 5 year extension.
- immature_male

5 more years of <70 points. Sign me up.