Glen Miller: Jackets Still Consistently Inconsistent & Oilers Game Night Preview

That would be Geoff Sanderson.

Go Oilers Go

That would be Geoff Sanderson.

Go Oilers Go
- Tapdog

That would be correct. Looking forward to the game later. Hopefully the Jackets can slow down the Oilers attack this evening.

That would be correct. Looking forward to the game later. Hopefully the Jackets can slow down the Oilers attack this evening.
- Glen Miller

Doesn't seem like jackets have done well against oil for years and now that they are still fast and more skilled this could be ugly.

Doesn't seem like jackets have done well against oil for years and now that they are still fast and more skilled this could be ugly.
- bjacket

I can't remember the last time I was ever confident the Jackets would win...

I can't remember the last time I was ever confident the Jackets would win...
- CBJ18

Good point. Did you guys catch JD's Q and A with the season ticket holders? It seemed the consensus is cautious optimism in large part because of his track record with St. Louis. I might try to link that in the next blog.

That would be correct. Looking forward to the game later. Hopefully the Jackets can slow down the Oilers attack this evening.
- Glen Miller

You might be surprised with how bad Edmonton offence is. Doesn't take much to slow down our attack lately.

You might be surprised with how bad Edmonton offence is. Doesn't take much to slow down our attack lately.
- al3535

There's a lot of talent there though. Heck, Gagner is playing at a point-per-game pace. Justin Schultz is a force back there. I'm certainly not looking past that talent.

There's a lot of talent there though. Heck, Gagner is playing at a point-per-game pace. Justin Schultz is a force back there. I'm certainly not looking past that talent.
- Glen Miller

True but they are frustrating to watch. How little they do with all those high picks.

True but they are frustrating to watch. How little they do with all those high picks.
- al3535

Give it some time. The only area that would concern me if I am an Oilers fan would be in goal. Is Dubnyk the answer and if not is the future #1 already in the organization. If not, they'll need to find one to coincide with the rise of the rest of the team's talent.

Give it some time. The only area that would concern me if I am an Oilers fan would be in goal. Is Dubnyk the answer and if not is the future #1 already in the organization. If not, they'll need to find one to coincide with the rise of the rest of the team's talent.
- Glen Miller

I agree they need some more time for sure. They seem to get out worked a lot and it is painful to watch them lose to teams like the Flames. Skill only gets you so far. Dubnyk seems to be getting much better but still seems to let in a bad goal a game. You'll see that tonight I am sure. He is definitely not the problem in Edmonton's loses for sure.

Oilers have a nice collection of talent, but they have on system in place. (frank).

True but they are frustrating to watch. How little they do with all those high picks.
- al3535

No system in place. They cater their game to how other teams play instead of playing their own style. Shame on our coaches!

Give it some time. The only area that would concern me if I am an Oilers fan would be in goal. Is Dubnyk the answer and if not is the future #1 already in the organization. If not, they'll need to find one to coincide with the rise of the rest of the team's talent.
- Glen Miller

That's one of the only areas that doesn't concern me. Dubnyk has been fantastic the last 3 seasons. He's very underrated.

No system in place. They cater their game to how other teams play instead of playing their own style. Shame on our coaches!
- laughs2907

I'm a little surprised since they promoted Krueger from the AHL job and he had several of those kids in Oklahoma City. I would have expected the transition to his system to be smooth. I guess I'll see a bit more tonight of what you are talking about.

That's one of the only areas that doesn't concern me. Dubnyk has been fantastic the last 3 seasons. He's very underrated.
- laughs2907

I guess I should have expounded on that; for me he needs to be the guy for a full season before I would be ready to call him the sure #1. He has played well for the most part this year and had some good efforts last year but I'm not quite ready to anoint him the undisputed goalie of the future.

I'm a little surprised since they promoted Krueger from the AHL job and he had several of those kids in Oklahoma City. I would have expected the transition to his system to be smooth. I guess I'll see a bit more tonight of what you are talking about.
- Glen Miller

He was an associate coach with the Oilers since 2010. I think he was a scouting consultant or something with Carolina prior to that... The trouble is that every game is different for the Oilers. There's no consistency. The last coach to use a system in Edmonton was MacTavish in 06.

I guess I should have expounded on that; for me he needs to be the guy for a full season before I would be ready to call him the sure #1. He has played well for the most part this year and had some good efforts last year but I'm not quite ready to anoint him the undisputed goalie of the future.
- Glen Miller

True. I think there was too much loyalty for our older guys... Khabibulin for instance, had no business playing as many games as he did the last two seasons. If you compare his stats to Dubnyk's it's easy to see who the better goalie is. Agreed that he needs more games in order to gain a reputation though. At least Krueger is giving him a chance to be our clear starter this year... I'll give him that.

True. I think there was too much loyalty for our older guys... Khabibulin for instance, had no business playing as many games as he did the last two seasons. If you compare his stats to Dubnyk's it's easy to see who the better goalie is. Agreed that he needs more games in order to gain a reputation though. At least Krueger is giving him a chance to be our clear starter this year... I'll give him that.
- laughs2907

It makes nothing but sense to let Dubnyk go with it for now. Khabibulin is at the end of the road and even if he decides to play on beyond this year it won't be in Edmonton. Might as well find out what you have with Dubnyk.

It makes nothing but sense to let Dubnyk go with it for now. Khabibulin is at the end of the road and even if he decides to play on beyond this year it won't be in Edmonton. Might as well find out what you have with Dubnyk.
- Glen Miller

They should have done that in 2010 lol... During the 2010-11/2011-12 seasons, he combined for 22 wins, 52 losses, and 11 OT losses. During that same period, Dubnyk had 32 wins, 33 losses, and 11 OT losses... Dubnyk's save percentage and goals against average was also much better than Khabibulin's during that same period.

At least Khabibulin helped us get a few really good picks though; I guess we can thank him for that.

Glen Miller: Jackets Still Consistently Inconsistent & Oilers Game Night Preview
- Glen Miller

I wouldnt call the jackets a 20 or 40 minute team but simply that they cant play with a lead, I noticed that once they score the first goal or take the lead (see flames game) the players seem to sit on their laurels thinking its mission accomplished and that Mace and Bob will take care of the rest.

I wouldnt call the jackets a 20 or 40 minute team but simply that they cant play with a lead, I noticed that once they score the first goal or take the lead (see flames game) the players seem to sit on their laurels thinking its mission accomplished and that Mace and Bob will take care of the rest.
- Alexzanki

Nobody ever, EVER under any circumstance should have to see a Flames game.

Nobody ever, EVER under any circumstance should have to see a Flames game.
- al3535

So far a solid effort from Columbus. One turnover and a bad decision by Bob and it's one to zero. Also didn't like that penalty there called against Dorsett. Whistle hadn't blown yet and he was trying to play the puck.

JJ should have wristed that puck instead of winding up and slapping it. He gave Dubnyk extra time to get across the crease. I don't know if it would have made a difference. Still a great save though.

U guys think Columbus will look to trade players like Dubinsky & Umberger or are they seen as players to build around?