Oilers at Canucks, G11, 09-10
Shawn Horcoff’s NHL career has been a very successful one. When he arrived fall 2000 (and was sent down) any fool could tell he played the game with enough skill and intelligence to make the show.
It didn’t take him long (24 games in Hamilton) to make the grade and Horc’s move up the team depth chart (4th line L to 1line C) happened in predictable fashion. His wide range of skills made him a big part of every team after the lockout, including the beauty team that went all the way to G7, SCF.
Oiler fans love him (hat tip to the ladies of Hot Oil for the photo of unnamed female flying the colors) and hate hit him (talk to any Oiler fan now and there’s either a degree of concern or disdain), sometimes in the same day.
Shawn Horcoff is in the middle of a terrible slump to start this season. 08-09 was a solid year (depending on the person you’re talking to) and we discussed it here. This is the important part of the post for today’s purposes:
- How important is Horcoff to this team? Vital. There are several skills (size, intelligence, experience, faceoff skills, playing successfully with Hemsky) that are not duplicated on this roster.
The Oilers appear to have found another center who can play with Hemsky. That’s excellent, but the other items on the list still apply. Meaning that whatever else is ailing the Edmonton Oilers, they sure as hell better figure out what’s up with Horcoff. They’re not going too damn far without him and that’s for sure.
There have been rumors about a foot injury and that makes a ton of sense. When men Horcoff’s age fall away in terms of their established performance level, it is usually injury. If this injury is a long ranger, they’re probably wise to place him on the IR and get him healthy.
Except they can’t, because there is no replacement. Got Horcoff? Sure do. And once again, he’s the best possible option for the coach. Even on one leg.
I don't remember Hemsky taking the amount of clappers he's taken this season in the rest of his career combined.
Slalom Ethan now. Fuck me.
46 on the powerplay but not 12?
FOR THE LOVE OF GOD!
Peckham looks like a kid among men tonight.
Has Chorney passed him on anyone else's depth chart?
Another difference from last year.
PK was 27th, now its 25th
If they give Luongo first star tonight I'll vomit.
Hemsky PP unit had some decent pressure. the 10-46 pp unit is killing me
Yeah i thought it was 10 trying the deke behind the oiler net, and i thought to myself ' wow thats an unusually stupid play for horcoff to make'
then i realized it was moreau
McLean is a douche
Wow… that Ott hit was atrocious. That should be 20+ games…
In the department of good news:
Milan Kytnar remains at a point per game with Vancouver. Another assist tonight for 3 points in 3 games.
Hey I don't mind testing the jinx — this game has been smelling like a shutout since early times. Oilers have tested Luongo exactly once by my count.
This game has been like deja-vu from last season. Now all we need is for JDD to start batting the puck down the ice and pretending his helmut is coming off whenever he needs a whistle. I hope it's a combination of the flu + all of the injuries because they look horrible out there.
Derian Hatcher has to be on the C-team.
Scuderi hit was just a hip check no?
"Soviet judge gave him a 5.6"
"BobbiLu played that one up"
They're on to him. Even the Sportsnet announcers have got it figured out.
On that replay I also noted Ehrhoff slashing Stortini in the upper body while Zack lay on the ice.
The good news is that I am on fucking fire betting the correct Oiler results and over/unders!:)
The bad news is I have the Oilers for a grand total of three EV chances after the first 40 min.
The Oil are just fucking brutal tonight; absolutely brutal.
49 looks even worse, more out of place and more timid than he did last night and I have to wonder if he's still a little beat up. the funny thing was the rink is so quiet that on that stupid pass he made before the Sedin tip, I heard him shout, "fuck me."
Yes, indeed.
- 27 had one nice little blast to the net but that was it.
- 89's playing a solid game and drove to the net just before the last Van penalty.
- JDD looks good enough that he'll have the leverage to at least get another couple of starts without a second thought.
- I don't really have much of a problem with the D and I think all of 5-71-77 have looked fine but there's nothing happening from the forwards so it's hard to defend all the time.
No legs, no hands, no heads, and no chance. The flu has taken its toll.
Please, please be 4 minutes.
At this point I'd take the loss if somebody feeds Kesler or Burrows their lunch.
This game is terrible…for both teams.
I saw vish dripping blood into his hands after that beaut. should be 4
canucks really boring to watch.
I don't know why people have that reflex, but putting your hands on your face won't make it feel less painful.
I had visions of Vis losing an eye there.
Thank God it was only in the mouth.
More jump this period but no one is going to the net, like last year.
4 minutes to make it a game.
That had to be 4 minutes, you could see the blood running down Vishnovsky's hands.
The commentating on Sportsnet is just brutal as well.
Even McCreary couldn't miss that one.
Does Stortini have more PP time than Cogliano this season…?
Get Stortini out of the ice.
PAT QUINN I SWEAR I'M GONNA MURDER EVERYONE IF YOU MAKE HIM KILL YOUR OWN PP AGAIN
FPB: If you've ever been hit in the face or anywhere else, what's your first reaction? That's right you grab whatever got hurt.
When you take damage to the body most times applying pressure to it not only helps to control the damage, as in restricting bloodflow, but it does actually reduce the pain as often times applying pressure to the nerves around the area helps counter the pain impulses firing off in the area.
So when's Souray back anyway? Jeeesh
brutal passing
They really need Souray back.
Objectionable conduct, Vancouver #40. That penalty is declined, repeat 3rd down.
Uni: I don't know, i'm under 18 so i still play with a full facial protector, but if i get slashed or cross checked, the adrenaline usually put ups for the pain, then going to the bench i realize i'm bleeding.
Only time i put my hands instead of going own with the play was when i got slashed in the throat.
Imagine how disappointed Vancouver fans and luongo are going to be when Steve Yzerman puts him #3 on the goalie depth chart?
not enough pressure on BLu
Is there some reason 12 and 13 can't be on the power play? I mean, I know 10 and 46 are dominant offensive players with smooth hands and great decision making, but surely it might be OK just to try.
And get POS off the fucking point.
27-89-83
71-37/77
12-13-67
71-37/77
Just do it.
The positioning on the powerplay is fucking atrocious. Guy on the halfboards with one behind the red line, one in front with 2 Canucks D, a point man on the FAR side and another on the far half boards. WTF? No options, no possibilities, and no stretching of the box. AND it's static. One guy with the puck at the point and 4 guys below the hash marks? You need OPTIONS, Edmonton, OPTIONS, to open up space.
Rage!
Zorg is one of X guys not making much happen on the powerplay. He at least had a stuff attempt and a deflection that just missed. Didn't see the big boys accomplishing a whole lot either.
PP is just one giant bag of suck no matter who's on it tonight.
Smid with a shot! His first of the season.
Stay classy Kesler.
That should be an unsportsmanlike penalty. Whether 77 took him down or not, that stick snap was childish.
Gilbert got the puck first before Kessler went down. Don't see how the commentators didn't see that. Lordie these commentators are bad.
And FPB, yeah, you only instinctively grab when you get hit really hard like Vish got hit in the face there…or you're trying to draw a penalty =).
0/7 on the PP.
12 is all about the low percentage pass into coverage.
10 isn't skating like he's hurt, he's flying.
Kessler should have got 2 for unspoetsmanlike for breaking his stick over his knee and showing up the ref.
Not that it would have mattered.
FFS, Stortini can't even make a proper dump tonight.
WTF, Moreau having a heart to heart with Samuelson. Does he have to make everything look awkward?
this whole game has been a facepalm
Great series by first line
Holy Joseph, Jesus, and Mary, Penner is a wrecking ball out there when he wants to be.
I hate Canuck fans.
89 misses the net and they chant LUU
Uni: Well yeah, i mean Vis was bleeding real bad. But i mean, sometimes it's just terrible, Soccer, or sometimes i saw Kovalev pull some bullshit. I mean, i see guys with a full cage put theyr hands on the cage by reflex. Even if it doesn't hurt at all to get stick'd in the face with that on.
Oh Yay! the NZ trap!
I hate Canuck fans.
89 misses the net and they chant LUU
It makes sense when you think about it. If you know anything about hockey, you're probably not likely to be a Canucks fan.
There's 3 hours I won't be getting back.
Pitiful performance by the Oilers, and Canucks now that I think about it.
"A well earned shutout"
riiight…
Is it me or has O'Sullivan looked really poor out there the last two games?
At this point I am less enthused over his play than I am over Rowbear.
No legs, No PP = No chance
LT, look who's first star.
Last night's game was frustrating, but at least it was spirited. This one was just frustrating.
Entertainment value = -1
Nilsson's time as an Oiler appears to be winding down.
Moreau appears to now be a 4th liner. Not much offense left in his tank.
The first line appeared to have played well. Not much after that though.
JDD played well and kept the team in it.
The Colorado Avalanche come into town on Tuesday. Should be a barnburner.
FPB: I love how guys go down in soccer. I was watching the U20 WC and a Brazilian player got grazed by a thumb and he went flying across the pitch like he'd be shot with a 12 gauge.
And I just hate the homerish commentators. Minnesota has to have the gold standard for good even commentating. I mean they're pro-Wild but not blatantly so. Sportsnet is as bad as Fox Sports…had no idea they were this bad.
Also yes, 3 hours of my life wasted…and not even well wasted at that =(.
Un-oh.
Are the Oilers regressing to the mean?
The forward depth is so weak missing Comrie crates a big hole.
Tamblowe, one largish skilled LW please.
I would really like to know why Liam Reddox is in Springfield and Steve Macintyre is still here? At the very least, Quinn would be able to play Reddox a regular shift instead of this bullshit with Strudwick, Macintyre and now Peckham all taking turns at forward. For that matter, I would rather see the Red Ox in the line-up for Nilsson. It's too bad that we got him from the Isle's cause they are the only team out there dumb enough to let him out on the ice (see Rob Schremp).
Oh great, now we get a smirking John Garrett, the man who put the first four letters in "analysis".
I've been watching Family Guy for awhile. That Stewie rocks.
The Edmonton Oilers don't have enough NHL players. I think that's the trouble, although the flu bug might be a big part and they have lots of injuries.
Ha ha, Stewie is mocking the dog for returning to college. Classic.
When Stortini is named your player of the game, you know you really stink.
I know it's the second game of a b2b and I know many are hurt or sick. I said it a few games into the season and I'll say it again: the Oilers will piss this season away if they don't figure out how to get the puck out of their zone…
…and I'll add that Edmonton puck carriers, when hitting the opposition blue line, are giving zero thought whatsoever to how they're going to keep the puck once in the zone. Skating into 1 on 2's or 3's, dumping it to corners away from forechecking wingers, rattling it around the boards instead of lofting it in to buy time, forechecking on the PP with equal or short numbers in the corner…
And lastly, I'm thinking about renaming Andrew Cogliano to the Grim Reaper for how instantly the play seems to die on his stick of late. Or maybe just "baseball" because as soon as I see him when I think we're about to score my buzz gets killed and I know it will take about 8 more shifts before celebration.
There are too many suddenly likeable things about this team for decision making to be the one that castrates them.
I think we can chalk the last two games up to the flu. That simple.
LT: Family Guy is watchable only for Stewie and Brian. The Peter heavy episodes are just painful. Haven't watched it since they started giving the baby and dog less screen time.
Much more of a Futurama guy myself, too bad FOX went with the wrong show there.
Wow glad I only saw the third period.
Not sure about the other periods, but Penner looked huge out there.
Wow glad I only saw the third period.
Not sure about the other periods, but Penner looked huge out there.
I can't stand Family Guy. South Park nailed that show bang on.
Flu, bad matchups, and a little less luck than they have been accustomed to this year. Hopefully at least the flu is gone before they come here to play the Bruins.
I know the flu can have a drastic effect on a team. About ten years ago I took a team to the provincials and as we pulled up the first kid off the bus, painted the sidewalk. Well to make a long story short, we had 15 out of 17 kids catch the flu and even though they played once the puking and fever went away, they just weren't the same team.
I have a feeling that's what is going on in that dressing room right now. Spirits may be up, but somehow the bodies are hurting.
The Oil had three EV chances up until the ~6 min remaining mark when 89 recorded two chances in three seconds.
So, fuck, there was a lot of bad stuff going on tonight and we got nothing at all from the bottom six and it was a rare poor night chance-wise from 5-71 and poor young 49 looked like he belonged in Stockton.
I could chalk this up to Luongo being due for a hot streak – he certainly stole one from the Leaves last night and I've been nailing the Dys on a tonne of unders because I knew he'd bounce back – but the Oil didn't really test them and they could've taken this game to OT alone just based on the 92 seconds of 5-on-3 play plus the four min PP in the third.
And the EV pressure was non-existent and they couldn't pick up the slack.
In any case, we can chalk this up to the flu and the BTB and three games in four nights but let's see what happens on Tues vs Col.
The flu should have made it's way through the club then and if we don't at least saw off the Avs in the chance battle, we could be looking at a bit of a slump.
Or perhaps 10 will find chem with 19 or perhaps 13 will come around or 18 might even show his last rage towards the dying of the light:)
Speaking of TV, I can't put my finger on it but the lead in Being Erika just does it for me. She's by no means hot and she's not overly good looking but, I don't know, she just has the look.
Cogliano & something to Florida for Horton and then flip Horton to LA for a signed Frolov.
Barely possible but I can dream.
Family Guy formula is getting a little stale. Watching a lot of Glee nowadays.
The trouble with beating BobbaLouie is you need to get lots of shots, rebounds, bounces where he can be out of position.
That is almost the exact opposite of Oiler philosophy in any given game.
VAN was excellent postionally tonight and they skate well enough and are big enough to press puck battles and win.
We do not have a good enough roster in the present incarnation.
Post game
http://montreal.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20091025/mtl_habs2_091025/20091025/?hub=MontrealHome
Prendergast has watched the last 3 games in Montreal.
the Oilers will piss this season away if they don't figure out how to get the puck out of their zone…
Whatever Quinn wants this team to do in their own zone, it isn't working and hasn't since Chicago killed us. Who knows what the problem is, but we didn't have it as bad last year. (We had other problems, but not this…)
One question: Is it just me or do we never relieve pressure in our own zone by safely flipping the puck off the glass and out?
I know Staios used to do that way too often, but there are times I see our guys absolutely under siege and they try to make a pass to begin a breakout, it fails and the puck stays in our zone.
Has the Coach banned the safe "off the glass" play? If so, that's all well and good if you're a superbeast like Vis, but if you can't always handle the physical pressure of a forecheker hanging off you (see Grebs and Gilbert) or if you can't always make great plays (see Strudwick, Staios and Peckham especially) then sometimes the best bet is to get the puckout and see if you can regain possession while the other team tries to regain your zone.
No? Is this not our biggest problem? We've gone to an extreme in D-Zone strategy?
Awesome quote from thecaptainehtanmoreau in the Sun this morning.
"I don't think our compete level dropped off, we just couldn't make plays and when that happens maybe it appears that we're not trying as hard"
Douchtastic!!
A weak ass effort and he soft peddles it.
To his defence, the rest of the quote is "We didn't move the puck as well or create as much offence as we've had. There's no excuses for that"
I surprised he didn't preface the last part with "our so called skill guys"
3rd game in 4 nights in 3 different cities while fighting the flu.
It can make the last two games a little easier to take, but they are still two bad losses to division rivals where they lost the special teams battle and the game.
Prendergast has watched the last 3 games in Montreal.
Who would you want from the Habs?
Not much there past Cammalleri and he's their top scorer and costs $6M/yr
Kostitsyn? 2 years left on a 3.25M then RFA.
Would they ship Josh Georges + middling forward?
This team has too many middling forwards already.
Sam Gagner took 15 faceoffs last night and came out with a 53% average… Not shabby. Horcoff took 24 and was 50%.
for sake of embarassment i wont mention cogs or brule
FU LT, horrible link to that hot oil blog, that place just simply saddened me
89 was talking about how he can't believe what's gone wrong with the Kostitsyn who's down making trouble in Hamilton but KP wouldn't be watching him as he's in the A.
So, maybe, he's there looking at one of their bigtime players and he's talking a bigger deal with Cuntreal.
Without looking at their salary structure, at first blush, I can't see how these teams would link up.
Anyway, the biggest positive from last night was the play of JDD; his rebound control was the next thing to excellent.
Also, 22 destroyed both Erhoff and Glass with hits and he rocked Bieksa as well. That's the kind of thing you want from a 4th liner.
I looked at Montreal's lineup and I can't imagine what the Oilers could want there. I would have been interested in Higgins but of course he's gone. Komisarek would have been nice, but alas, again no longer there. Markov's pretty much the only top end guy left that's worth his deal and he's hurt and Montreal shouldn't deal him.
Luongo can be unbeatable when he is determined!