Happy Valentine's Day and Hockey Day in Canada. Full disclosure, I've never liked either event. Something to do with my icy heart not reacting well to the warming effects of love and compassion. Don't get me wrong, I like nice dinners and days full of hockey, but I hate paying for those dinners at packed restaurants and all the stories about small town X send me channel surfing.
I am aware that makes me a cheap/terrible person. So I'll just focus on the Oilers.
They have been playing relatively good hockey lately. Unlike what Stan Fischler said recently, the Oilers are not good but they are capable of looking good against the East. Plus, compared to what they looked like before this definitely looks better. After that sad and pathetic effort against the Leafs the Oilers matched up very well against the Devils (a so so team), the Islanders (who don't have a Super Star ;) ), and the Canadiens (who didn't play their best player).
We can only guess how the Oilers would fare if they were an Eastern team (obviously better) but that isn't going to happen short of Katz turning heel and moving the club to Quebec City, and that isn't happening. They have a long way to go before they are a good team, but Nelson is getting a lot more out of this club than I thought he could.
When you consider how the team is performing without Hall or Pouliot it is especially impressive. I don't think that the Oilers should abandon their search for a veteran coach this coming spring, but I do think Todd Nelson is making a great case for himself.
To me he has 2 obstacles facing him.
1) He would be the 3rd Head Coach in a row that didn't have a particularly strong NHL level resume. He has head coached for years in the AHL and knows the Oilers players better than any other candidate, but the team may want more of a known quantity. If someone with an established history of coaching in the NHL becomes available it could be difficult to stick with the unproven Nelson.
2) He is very much unlike his GM. The last time Craig MacTavish went looking for a coach he found himself in Dallas Eakins and immediately made him the Head Coach. Eakins, like MacTavish, was a smooth talking, Defense first, fitness nut who could handle himself with a camera in front of his face, and ran the team with authority. Nelson has been the anti-Eakins in almost every regard. He obviously doesn't care to be in front of the camera and keeps the mood very loose with his team. Right down to who he would play in OT or late in the game he has been the opposite of the guy that his GM fell in love with so much that he gave him a 4 year deal.
Those things, if anything, are going to be what keeps Edmonton from making Nelson its Valentine (see how I tied that in nicely?). He doesn't have years of NHL experience and he doesn't appear to be the kind of coach that fits MacT's style. However, some extended stretches of good play over the last 25ish games are going to make Nelson hard to overlook.
LINEUP
So yesterday Hendricks was spotted wearing a walking boot and both he and Benoit Pouliot will be game time decisions. That would be a major blow to the effectiveness of the 3rd line and to the physical will of the team. Hendricks has been the most consistent player all year when it comes to engaging in puck battles. If he doesn't play or can't bring that same level of play then the onus gets put on other players who haven't shown an aptitude for grit. We expect Fasth to get the start again.
Purcell RNH Eberle Hamilton Roy Yakupov Fraser Gordon Klinkhammer Gazdic Lander Pakarinen
Ference Petry Klefbom Schultz Marincin Fayne
Fasth
OILERS KEYS TO THE GAME (VALENTINE'S DAY EDITION)
1) Soul Mates. The pair of Klefbom and Schultz have been nothing short of fantastic over the last couple of weeks. What's been most impressive is that paired together Klefbom has added offense to his game and Schultz has added a physical element to his game. Initially it appeared as if Klefbom would have to be the defensive conscience of the pair while Schultz roamed free, but in reality it seems as though they are bringing out the best in each other. In the last game Klefbom played 26.5 and Schultz played 28 minutes all while keeping a 70% and 68% Corsi For respectively.
2) Lean On Me. Derek Roy has taken it upon himself to be the one responsible for Nail Yakupov's development. This is something that nobody to date has done and as much as it could buy him his next contract, the team also needs somebody to do it. Nail Yakupov has an incredible amount of untapped skill and this veteran Center wants to be the one to focus it and turn him back into the productive player he was supposed to be. Yak is on a 3 game point streak and just now looking like a consistent scoring threat.
3) Looking For The Right Match. As trade deadline day approaches more and more teams are watching Jeff Petry closely. What they've been witness to has been the best hockey the college trained Defenseman has ever played in the NHL. He is jumping up in the play more frequently and with more purpose than ever. He's getting a good amount of time on the PP and hammer shots from the point. And, he's not just playing physically, but he's getting involved in post-whistle scrums like never before. He looks like the exact thing a playoff team would like to add to their roster. He will find his match soon.
Puck drops at 12:10 PM Mountain Time on CBC. Love On!
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