Damien Cox has to be one of the worst analysts (if you can call him that) on TV. Say there should only be one assist per goal? Is he on glue? Trying to explain that only one pass makes a goal happen. Terrible. He needs to worry about the Davis Cup and stop talking about hockey because he is oblivious to it.
- agold2

That's why he won't get moved - he's far more valuable to Edmonton than to anyone else. But barely more than Bozak?

http://www.hockeydb.com/i...ts/pdisplay.php?pid=83925
http://www.hockeydb.com/i...ts/pdisplay.php?pid=93938

Not to pick nits or anything but Gagner is clearly > Bozak, particularly considering the supporting cast Gagner had (think the Three Stooges on skates).

(All I did was google "gagner stats' and "bozak stats" and click the top link. Total time spent - ~45 seconds. Let's do our homework people!)
- thefullnelson

As clear as mud.

Like Gagner and Whitney the guy needs time. He just came back from surgery.
- Lahey

I guess, it just seemed a little too nonchalant last night.

the sad thing about all of this was just about everyone was screaming the Oilers Defense was inadequate from the start. Only person who didn't see that was the GM.

If this team didn't suffer from all these freak injuries, and actually iced a better defense, even slightly better (as in NHL level defense, as opposed to AHL level with some) this is a team that should be battling for a playoff spot right now, as opposed to another lottery.

Another FUBARed season, thanks once again to our management pair of Tweedledee and Tweedledum.
- shvmr

How many NHL teams can stay in a playoff position losing their 3 best dman.

Read the entire thing... Agree entirely, Both teams could have easily won this. Shoulda been an OT game.

What's weird was the first period was all oil really they were faster craftier seemed like more possession too.

The next too periods I felt like the Leafs were faster and had more possession not to mention out muscled.

If the Oil put up a 60 minute effort then I would say the game was theres.

That's why he won't get moved - he's far more valuable to Edmonton than to anyone else. But barely more than Bozak?

http://www.hockeydb.com/i...ts/pdisplay.php?pid=83925
http://www.hockeydb.com/i...ts/pdisplay.php?pid=93938

Not to pick nits or anything but Gagner is clearly > Bozak, particularly considering the supporting cast Gagner had (think the Three Stooges on skates).

(All I did was google "gagner stats' and "bozak stats" and click the top link. Total time spent - ~45 seconds. Let's do our homework people!)
- thefullnelson

I'm not comparing Gagner directly to Sedin here but they're paths are similar. If Gagner didn't get that freak injury on the bench last year he would have had a new career high in pts. If he didn't get steamrolled from behind by a Flame in the pre-season and suffered a high ankle sprain and miss all of pre-season plus half of October people wouldn't be talking about how he has "struggled" this season.

Sedin first 4 seasons = 315 GPs 151 Pts
Gagner first 4 season = 291 GPs 173 Pts

http://www.hockeydb.com/i...ts/pdisplay.php?pid=34004
http://www.hockeydb.com/i...ts/pdisplay.php?pid=93938

People forget he's only 22 and coming off 2 serious injuries and is now just rounding into form. I don't expect him to hit 80+ pts but his potential is still there.

That's why he won't get moved - he's far more valuable to Edmonton than to anyone else. But barely more than Bozak?

http://www.hockeydb.com/i...ts/pdisplay.php?pid=83925
http://www.hockeydb.com/i...ts/pdisplay.php?pid=93938

Not to pick nits or anything but Gagner is clearly > Bozak, particularly considering the supporting cast Gagner had (think the Three Stooges on skates).

(All I did was google "gagner stats' and "bozak stats" and click the top link. Total time spent - ~45 seconds. Let's do our homework people!)
- thefullnelson

All you did was prove my point. Gagner, 0.61 ppg or 50 p/82g, or for Bozak, 0.55ppg, or 45 pts/82g. Are we trading any major assets for 5 points extra over an entire season, nope.

Read the entire thing... Agree entirely, Both teams could have easily won this. Shoulda been an OT game.

What's weird was the first period was all oil really they were faster craftier seemed like more possession too.

The next too periods I felt like the Leafs were faster and had more possession not to mention out muscled.

If the Oil put up a 60 minute effort then I would say the game was theres.
- wolfos412

IMO the young Oilers haven't learnt how to win on the road yet and the coaches (frank)ed up the matchups. If they would let the kids just play the game would probably be different. I also expect the game next week to be different considering Oilers have last change etc.

Also Eberle = BEAST. The only point per game guy averaging less than 20 mins of ice time. The only player in the top 30 in scoring averaging less than 18 mins of ice time.

Instead of questioning RNH and his ability to take a hit, maybe we should be looking at the Oilers conditioning and medical team that can't seem to get anything right and have been quite good at signing off players to play and then seeing them come back to them within 3 games. Something is intrinsically wrong here.

Instead of questioning RNH and his ability to take a hit, maybe we should be looking at the Oilers conditioning and medical team that can't seem to get anything right and have been quite good at signing off players to play and then seeing them come back to them within 3 games. Something is intrinsically wrong here.
- Pohl

Tru dat.

Hey, let's not go crazy here. What about Pierre Mcguire?
- thefullnelson

Meh. I'll take the annoyance that it is Mcguire over the smarmy, almost political and Toronto elite hubris that is Damien Cox.

All in all, he's (frank)ing geek.

Anyway.

Was at the game last night. Ebs was the best player on the ice. Just brilliant. I love how he is coming off the half-wall more and more. He froze the Leafs on many occasions. There was a real comeback feel that first 7 minutes of third. For starters, Eager has to pot that.
Good contingent of Oil fans and I can't help but think how the momentum may have shifted if the Smyth goal counted.

Richard Cloutier: Oilers Lose The Most Oiler Game of the Season


"The goal was in two seconds before the whistle went."
- Maxbone

The rule is actually not when the whistle blows, but when the official intended the play to be stopped. There is a natural lag between when this occurs in the officials head and when the whistle goes, but the former is the rule. Tough one, but every team gets that kind of thing throughout a season.

The rule is actually not when the whistle blows, but when the official intended the play to be stopped. There is a natural lag between when this occurs in the officials head and when the whistle goes, but the former is the rule. Tough one, but every team gets that kind of thing throughout a season.
- Deeps27

So if the official thinks to himself an hour before a goal happens that a goal shouldn't happen, it doesn't count?

Lame. Ass. Rule.

The rule is actually not when the whistle blows, but when the official intended the play to be stopped. There is a natural lag between when this occurs in the officials head and when the whistle goes, but the former is the rule. Tough one, but every team gets that kind of thing throughout a season.
- Deeps27

Agreed every team goes through it which is why I believe the rule should be taken away. The NHL wants to increase scoring right? So why take away goals where the ref was believed to have blown rather than actually blown.

Agreed every team goes through it which is why I believe the rule should be taken away. The NHL wants to increase scoring right? So why take away goals where the ref was believed to have blown rather than actually blown.
- oilersfanatic

Clarify

(...)maguire was considered for the gm job in Minnesota a couple years ago.
- SPIbanez

Boy did Minnie dodge a bullet there! (Random story:many years ago while watching Minnie thrash Edmonton the team name Minnesota Ninja Turtles was coinced and has stuck ever since in my social circle. On an unrelated note, if you must play the HNIC drinking game, don't ALSO do shots for goals!)

So if the official thinks to himself an hour before a goal happens that a goal shouldn't happen, it doesn't count?

Lame. Ass. Rule.
- Maxbone

Well, if the ref is in fact deciding to call off a goal an hour before it happens (which obviously was the case here) then yes, quite lame indeed.

Back in reality, that is a rule that is a tough one to take when you're on the wrong end. It also sucks when the ref loses sight of a puck that is clearly free yet blows the whistle anyway...little nuances that creep up every now and then, but generally don't impact the overall outcome that often.

Leafs had a clear goal called back against PIT last week too under similar circumstances, only this time a phantom goalie interference call scuttled the tally. Answer to all this is instituting a coaches challenge IMO.

To change topics, it was an entertaining, FAST hockey game last night...The Oilers have a lot to look forward to soon once the defensive end is taken care of.

Like Gagner and Whitney the guy needs time. He just came back from surgery.
- Lahey

Yep. And at some point your goaltender has to be better there. Sure it's not his FAULT. But Dubnyk was not square.

How many NHL teams can stay in a playoff position losing their 3 best dman.
- Go_Shelf

I think the point he was trying to make is the dmen we have were and are not good enough collectively... and the injuries with most of the dmen we have will continue to plague this team down the road as well... Barker had better shine come march and/or april otherwise I am not sure we offer him a new deal...

the sad thing about all of this was just about everyone was screaming the Oilers Defense was inadequate from the start. Only person who didn't see that was the GM.

If this team didn't suffer from all these freak injuries, and actually iced a better defense, even slightly better (as in NHL level defense, as opposed to AHL level with some) this is a team that should be battling for a playoff spot right now, as opposed to another lottery.

Another FUBARed season, thanks once again to our management pair of Tweedledee and Tweedledum.
- shvmr

I totally agree - except I actually think Oil management knew the D was lacking, they just didn't care. Maybe Tambi said he was trying for the playoffs so the league wouldn't crack down on him for intentionally tanking?

Instead of questioning RNH and his ability to take a hit, maybe we should be looking at the Oilers conditioning and medical team that can't seem to get anything right and have been quite good at signing off players to play and then seeing them come back to them within 3 games. Something is intrinsically wrong here.
- Pohl

Completely agree... the thing is Katz should be questioning some of this poop... He really needs to clean house and can Lowe for starters... Get in some experts as well all know he has the money to do so...

Agreed every team goes through it which is why I believe the rule should be taken away. The NHL wants to increase scoring right? So why take away goals where the ref was believed to have blown rather than actually blown.
- oilersfanatic

Agreed. Coaches should be able to challenge scoring plays, or all goals that are called off for a defined set of reasons (ie interference, re-direction, early whistle) shouldbe subject to automatic review.

While we're talking new rules, throw in an illegal defence call for trapping teams...

Clarify
- daws44

Ref thinks the play is dead
(Whistle should be blown here)................. _
......................................................................|
Ref pulls hand close to face...........................|
......................................................................|
Ref inhales.....................................................|
......................................................................| LAG
Ref puts whistle in mouth..............................|
......................................................................|
Ref blows... Whistle.......................................|
......................................................................|
Noise is made ...............................................|
(Whistle is only blown here)...................._|

I'm not comparing Gagner directly to Sedin here but they're paths are similar. If Gagner didn't get that freak injury on the bench last year he would have had a new career high in pts. If he didn't get steamrolled from behind by a Flame in the pre-season and suffered a high ankle sprain and miss all of pre-season plus half of October people wouldn't be talking about how he has "struggled" this season.

Sedin first 4 seasons = 315 GPs 151 Pts
Gagner first 4 season = 291 GPs 173 Pts

http://www.hockeydb.com/i...ts/pdisplay.php?pid=34004
http://www.hockeydb.com/i...ts/pdisplay.php?pid=93938

People forget he's only 22 and coming off 2 serious injuries and is now just rounding into form. I don't expect him to hit 80+ pts but his potential is still there.
- oilersfanatic

Gagner reminds me of a young Doug Gilmour (hopefully he doesn't try tap a babysitter)

Ref thinks the play is dead
(Whistle should be blown here) _
|
Ref pulls hand close to face |
|
Ref inhales |
| LAG
Ref puts whistle in mouth |
|
Ref blows... Whistle |
|
Noise is made |
(Whistle is only blown here) _|
- mfreedman

Sorry for miscommunication.
I forgot to hit sarcasm button.
Re read bolded.