If you were looking for a place to lay blame last night, targets were available everywhere. Connor McDavid turned over the puck seconds before the first goal against, Mike Smith made like Crocodile Dundee and went walkabout, and Ethan Bear had a pinch of sin on the winner. Smith went all “bad teammate” when glaring at the Nuge when the winner went in, and that’s all she wrote.
Opportunity missed. All will be forgiven if we can point to last night as “lesson learned” and that’s what we’ll find out in the days to come. Edmonton is a better team than Calgary, so the Flames had to outwork and outsmart the Oilers. Mission accomplished.
THE ATHLETIC!
I’m proud to be writing for The Athletic, and pleased to be part of a great team with Daniel Nugent-Bowman and Jonathan Willis. Here is our recent work.
- New Lowetide: How will Oilers GM Ken Holland make room in the lineup for Evan Bouchard?
- Lowetide: Are the Oilers and Elvis Merzlikins a trade match?
- Lowetide: Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Dominik Kahun, Dylan Holloway and a perfect storm on the Oilers’ left side
- Lowetide: Why Oilers GM Ken Holland shouldn’t wait for the deadline to make a trade
- Lowetide: Three Oilers prospects form hottest line in the AHL
- Lowetide: Oilers’ top 20 prospects, trade deadline edition
- Lowetide: Why are some Oilers fans hesitant to give Darnell Nurse his due?
- Jonathan Willis: Can Oilers improve enough to beat TML it in May?
- Lowetide: Top trade targets for the Oilers at the 2021 deadline
- Jonathan Willis: Oilers 2021 trade value rankings
- Lowetide: February report cards for the Oilers
- Jonathan Willis: The Oilers’ 2020 trade deadline splash: What we learned, a year later
- Lowetide: Revisiting our preseason predictions for the Oilers after 20 games
- Lowetide: Is this peak Connor McDavid?
OILERS AFTER 31 GAMES
- Oilers in 2015-16: 14-15-2, 30 points; goal differential -7
- Oilers in 2016-17: 15-11-5, 35 points; goal differential +6
- Oilers in 2017-18: 13-16-2, 28 points; goal differential -6
- Oilers in 2018-19: 17-12-2, 36 points; goal differential +2
- Oilers in 2019-20: 18-10-3, 39 points; goal differential +6
- Oilers in 2020-21: 18-13-0, 36 points; goal differential +11
Tippett’s Oilers (in my opinion) are better at tweaking things and quicker at getting results than the McLellan party, but part of last night was old man Sutter having the complete attention of all 23 men and that’s going to run its course no matter what Tippett conjures up in the midnight hour.
WHAT TO EXPECT IN MARCH
- At home to: Toronto, Toronto, Calgary (Expected: 1-1-1) (Actual 1-2-0)
- At home to: Ottawa, Ottawa, Ottawa (Expected: 2-1-0) (Actual 3-0-0)
- On the road to: Vancouver, Calgary, Calgary (Expected: 2-1-0) (Actual 0-2-0)
- At home to Winnipeg, Winnipeg (Expected: 1-1-0) (Actual 0-0-0)
- On the road to: Montreal, Montreal, Montreal (Expected 2-1-0) (Actual 0-0-0)
- On the road to: Toronto, Toronto (Expected 1-1-0) (Actual 0-0-0)
- Overall expected result: 9-6-1, 19 points in 16 games
- Current results: 4-4-0, 8 points in eight games
Edmonton is at a point-per-game rate currently, if the team completes the month in this way the Oilers will have 48 points in 43 games. That extrapolates to 62.5 points, and that’s a bubble playoff team. Our conversation is sliding back from ‘sure thing’ to ‘if things break right’ and that shouldn’t happen. There’s a lot of blacktop ahead, and Edmonton remains in a playoff spot. Edmonton is five points ahead and Calgary has two games in hand. In the last 10 games, Calgary has 12 points, Edmonton 10. It takes forever to close a gap, but the team can’t go on a losing skid this month.
LAST NIGHT
- Adam Larsson scored a goal from the slot, don’t think we’ve seen that much in his five years here. He had two HDSC, a giveaway and a takeaway, and ran through three rebels clean. Larsson is in a zone right now, miserable to play against and very effective. 1-1 goals at five on five.
- Alex Chiasson had a shot on goal but was quiet at five on five and on the power play.
- Connor McDavid is a unicorn. One assist, along with three shots five on five, one HDSC, four hits and miles of brilliant skaing. Flames bottled up his line pretty good, Tippett will need to find a brand new pair of roller skates and a brand new key.
- Darnell Nurse played 28:19, leading all skaters on the night. He had two shots, took a penalty and had a couple of giveaways at five on five. Had one good look on the power play, put in three minutes work on the PK. Tough as nails.
- Devin Shore had a great assist on the Archibald goal, he had a nice game. There’s a chance he’ll slide into the middle if Jujhar Khaira is unavailable due to injury.
- Ethan Bear had an assist on a fantastic pass, and also had some Niinimaa-quality vapor lock on the winning goal. Where, pray tell, was he going? Bear was on the ice for five goals (2-3) at five on five, and was chasing too much. He’s still a fine passer and he is coming out of the fog of his concussion, but the team is just going to have to be patient.
- Gaetan Haas had a weird night, running wild and free with Shore and Archibald (that was a lovely goal) but going 1-2 in five on five goals. He had five defensive zone starts and none in the offensive zone, Tippett is trusting him in a more specific role. Last night’s results were not positive overall.
- James Neal had a shot on goal, broke up a promising play but was otherwise quiet.
- Jesse Puljujarvi had two shots, one HDSC, drew a penalty and had a takeaway. His motor was running all night and I thought he played an effective game. However, he was 0-2 goals in 6:25 minutes five on five with McDavid-Nuge. One of those nights.
- Josh Archibald scored a beautiful goal, had three shots, effective in three PK minutes as the Oilers allowed just one goal in his 180 seconds.
- Jujhar Khaira played 2:55, elbowed Oliver Kylington, lost a fight to Brett Ritchie and looked concussed after the fight. That’s two regular forwards lost to fights this season. Khaira was playing extremely well when he was hurt.
- Kailer Yamamoto had an assist, a HDSC and a penalty. Effective the entire night, he took a beating from the Flames and one wonders how effective he’ll be tomorrow night.
- Kris Russell had an effective evening, winning the shot share 6-2 and goal share 1-0 during his 17:46 of five on five play. He’ll get lit up online but Russell played well.
- Leon Draisaitl had a fantastic game, scoring a lovely goal and going 2-0 goals at five on five. Two HDSC chances five on five and another on the PP. Played well with McDavid-Yamamoto and Ennis-Yamamoto.
- Ryan Nugent-Hopkins had two good looks but went 0-3 goals at five on five (Nuge-JP with McDavid 0-2 on the night). Edmonton needs his line to score goals and suppress offense.
- Tyler Ennis had an assist, two shots and was one of the more effective Oilers on the night. Several times he bought time in the offensive zone by going “fiddler crab” and turning sideways to confuse the enemy. Damndest thing. Effective.
- Tyson Barrie played seven minuted before getting hurt, he was chaotic and made one very dangerous play that could have resulted in a goal.
- William Lagesson played just 12:55 at five on five, he was odd man out due to he Barrie injury. Went 0-1 goals and 3-6 shots.
- Mike Smith made a fatal mistake on his walkabout and stopped 23 of 27, .852. Save percentage for the year now .921.
LOWDOWN WITH LOWETIDE
A busy morning on the Lowdown, we hit the air on TSN 1260 at 10 this morning. Hailey Salvian from The Athletic in Calgary will talk Flames and Darryl Sutter’s impact. At 11, Jeff Krushell from Krush Performance will talk about the Jays and the MLB season to come. 10-1260 text, @Lowetide on twitter. See you on the radio!
Stats By STATS
@StatsBySTATS
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The @Avalanche are the first NHL team to allow 4+ goals in the first period and yet win the game by 4+ goals since March 12, 1988, when the Flames allowed 4 goals in the first against Buffalo but won 10-4.
??
Wonder if it’s possible to trade for Palmeiri? He’s scored 25 goals five years in a row, but only has four this year. He’s a 30 year old pending UFA. I can’t imagine the asking price would be astronomical.
Knowing no more about the player than posted above…
“Help! I’m a former 25 goal scorer for 4 years out of 10 and am 30 years old and can’t score anymore. Please Oilers, take a wild chance so I can get another NHL contract”
Great to hear condors are tearing up the league. Keep up the play boys. Thnx OP
Marody with a sensational rush and a nice spin on a one on one – finds Deharnais trailing who fires a shot pass that Esposito tips for the 3-2 OT Win.
Almost 3 minutes in to OT and the Baracuda never touches the puck – seriously, they never touched the puck.
Marody with a power drive wide to the net in OT – didn’t cash but he’s done this a number of times this year – something somewhat new to his repertoire, to my eye.
They didn’t wait until the last minute with the goalie pulled but the Condors tie it up late, Joe G. from Esposito.
Its a bottom 6 kind of night – Condors’ best duo have been Stukel and Hamlin.
Cornish, who has been great, made a mistake playing a puck that would have been an icing and it was in his net shortly thereafter.
Perfect, go baby oil
Skinner with a couple big saves and then Condors go down on a 2 on 1 and McLeod stopped after a cross-ice pass by Benson.
Great to see that for the second night in a row that this fine place is being ruined by the same fuckwad(s) dragging it into the gutter. Real fine discussion.
Point with your finger on the doll where the words hurt you.
So, no Big 10 Championship for Wisconsin but they can still win the National Championship. Selections for the 16 team tournamnet are announced on March 21.
The six conference champs are in plus 10 other selections.
I would think that Wisconsin, as the #1 seed in the Big 10, would be selected.
Come on – give it break all….. its been 24 hours of this utter bullshit.
Condors running around and San Jose takes the lead.
Skinner kicked out a massive rebound on a “meh” shot and then, no long after, he tried to block a centering pass but directed it right to an attacker who put it over his shoulder.
Not trying to knock Skinner but his rebound control and puck placement skills have been regressing over the last few games.
4th line goal for the Condors – Stukel/Hamlin cause a turnover on the forecheck and Hamlin scores on what was a quick strike 2 on 0.
Thanks for the update guys. Cant get the game here. Ontario
Onhockey.tv
I watch the games on the internet browser of my smart tv
I have NHL Center Ice too, but with the Friggin blackouts it is about 50/50 for each. Although Onhockey is often “buggy” for NHL and sometimes NCAA games…
Yes, ive used it but my antivirus hated i think me as well. Lol
I use on.hockey for many things (although I pay for AHL TV and Big 10 Network) and its unusable without a US VPN (another small price).
Caufield with the snipe off the draw.
5-4, 2 minutes remaining
ENG for Minnesota
6-4
Cracknell loses the PK draw, puck goes to the point, down to the half-boards and a seemingly harmless shot from the outside hits a shin pad and beats Skinner short side.
Badgers score 2, it is 5-3 with just over 9 minutes to go.
Golden Gophers take off in the 2nd period and its 5-1……. Holloway is plus 1.
As mentioned below
It’s funny cause OP does that to everyone else
Just listened to a fascinating interview with Ryan Kesler.
He says many many members of the NHLPA welcome the flat cap and hope its permanent.
The thinking is, it will eventually do away with escrow which the players absolutely hate and he believes the escalator clause should also be abolished.
He admits some players heading to UFA status in the next few years might see lower contracts but also says, that without escrow, they will be better off in the long run.
That’s easy for a guy to say for someone that’s getting paid but not playing
Smart people talk about ideas…others talk about other people.
And stupid people troll the internet ?♂️
if he was looking for a new contract but the only places with cap space were Buffalo and Columbus I’m sure he would be the loudest person about using the cap escalator
Only way to get rid of escrow is via a new CBA.
Could happen but, presumably, the players will need to accept the cap being apx 40% of HRR as a start (perhaps it can go up in future years if the owners “owe the players money”.
NHLPA should have players sign contracts based on a percentage of the cap. That means it doesn’t matter when a player signs a contract. It is the only way to effectively limit the size of escrow.
I am baffled that the NHLPA constantly invoked the automatic escalator.
Doesn’t that hurt the guys who are up for new contract with a significant raise?
The team can still give them a raise. Raises are being limited by the total cap limit, not the method of calculating individual cap hit.
Yep.
It should absolutely come to that.
That they invoked the escalator repeatedly was very short sighted.
I think they’ve finally figured that out.
That was like a lab rat hitting the cocaine lever in his cage.
That’s one way that has been proposed. The other is that the they use the prior year’s revenues rather than the current year. Either way would make me happy, although I think Covid should give the nod to the percentage method.
And of course either/or need a new CBA or a big-time amendment to the existing.
Gophers up 5-1 and looking dominant
Well end of 2nd. Not looking promising. Definitely not their best game
Beautiful puck retrieval and outlet pass under pressure by Niemelainen….. I’m loving this player’s game.
Condors continue to go 11/7 and McLeod takes the first shift with Hamlin and Stukel on the 4th line and they have an offensive zone possession shift.
That’s not your prototypical fourth line – two offensive minded wingers.
Wisconsin down 1-0 after the first period.
Holloway was dangerous offensively during the period – one strong rush wide on the defense and one good slot pass set-up.
OmJo, all fair points. The reproductive organ thing was something I asked my wife about and she had mentioned how it can come off as derogatory. I thought the comparison of the two in that sense was a tad drôle so mentioned it.
I should apologize for the ‘drunk’ and ‘Don Cherry’ comments. It was a poorly exectuted attempt on my part at trying to put a little sense of kidding around in a rather serious post.
And yes, I agree, to be human is to be hypocritical
I would like to clarify, although my post was directed towards yours and by extension towards you, I wasn’t trying to single you out specifically. What I addressed in my post is something that’s very, very, very common these days, especially online. It was just a convenient example to use to air some of my grievances. Those grievances aren’t about you personally, but the bigger picture behind your post.
Skinner starts….. again.
Safin in for McPhee as the only skater change.
I think its becoming obvious that Tulio is only there to practice with the pro players and not to play – that’s OK, he’s only there as a teenager due to Covid-rules.
Hopefully the OHL can get going and he can get some more games in.
Still looking for some confirmation on the Condors’ lineup – in particular if Tulio is playing.
Holloway as the net front on this PP – I’ve watched alot of Wisconsin hockey this season and this is a rare occurrence (usually left point or right side half boards setting up for the one-timer).
Good to see Holloway in the lineup – Wisconsin will be moving on even if they lose (likely) so may as well have them win…..
Just was watching the Buffalo/New Jersey game. Taylor Hall was standing in front of the NJ and just as his Dman let an unchallenged slapshot fly, PK Subban (let’s call it a shove) knocked Hall down and he fell face-first into the path of the projectile. The puck collided with his mouth/teeth, but he was able to skate back to his bench on his own. Nasty.
Given the KHL incident last night where a player lost his life, I just wonder when the league will finally decide to look at a different kind of puck, to reduce injuries. Hockey has a lot of components and a culture so unique to the sport that makes it fast and exciting, but also makes it extremely dangerous.
I wonder if there will ever be changes in the next decade to address some of these components for the sake of the safety of its workers, like so many other workplaces have done and continue to do.
Poor bastard just can’t catch a break, ever. That was hard to watch…
Dmen blocking shots is where the big danger is imo. At least with forwards up high the puck is up to knee high. I cringe when a Dman goes down to a knee at the hash marks with guys like Weber launching pucks at head level
The Flames fans are partying like it’s 1999 today meanwhile some Oiler fans want the game turned into ringette because we lost. Lots of folks seem to be underestimating J.J he may not go away as quietly as most posters seem to think.
Sir, this is a Wendy’s.
But seriously, this is hockey, not gladiators on ice.
Internet tough guy huh?
Good for you, we need more douche bags posting on this site.
Godot is going to love it when we sign Tyson Barrie.
Does / would this not have expansion draft implications?
Tyson is 3 months from celebrating his 30th birthday.
Lock up Tyson in his prime Kenny.
As a rugged defensive first d-man, the just turned 28 Adam Larsson will be primed for the next 3-4 years.
As an offensive minded d-men, I think Tyson Barrie will be regressing over the next 3-4 years.
I think you got it backwards
He will be 29 next season and a very rapid decline is just around the corner in his 30s. He’s already not a fast skater and when he loses a step his decline will be drastic.
Vlasic island is just around the corner
Barrie while poor defensively is less likely to erode
Nope, I don’t agree.
Vlasic is a great example – he was arguably the best defensive d-man in the league in his 28-31 years. He’s 34 now (in a week) and didn’t start to regress until something recently.
Something recently is 3 years ago
If he was the best defensive D at 31 and is no longer that at 34, didn’t that mean he begun regressing at 32?
Or did he skip 32 and 33?
Larsson could very well end up going the Lucic route.
Larsson just turned 28 and I posited he’ll be in his prime for 3 years.
Yes.
Tip on Khaira:
“Seems alright, listed as day to day. we’ll see where he is tomorrow morning. Didn’t skate today but he’s around the dressing room and doing alright”.
Good to hear we need him back he’s stirring the drink on the bottom six.
I have been reading the pretentious crap this alleged millenial writes since I was a teenager, when Dave Hodge started whining away on HNIC about various issues.
Formula:
– Take a position that appears lofty, real MLK stuff
-many clucking sheep press “thumbs up”
Voila! You now have a politically correct position to smugly point your podgy finger at.
Or they are the victim of patriarchial tyranny?
Oilers do not need any more Cs. They need LWs. If you can get good wingers, Nugent-Hopkins becomes the 3C this team covets so badly for some reason. It seems crazy to me they’d rather look for another 3C over another good winger – they have the best C depth in the league. But because the LW depth is below average, one of their three Cs must be LW.
Get a LW. Kill two birds with one stone. RW depth is decent with Puljujarvi-Yamamoto-Kassian. LW depth is Ennis-Khaira-Neal. Two 3LWs and a 5LW. That’s the issue. That’s the weakest part of this roster, aside from goaltending. Arguably weaker than goaltending, IMO.
Trading for another C is like giving Barrie an extension when you have Evan Bouchard. Don’t be dumb, Oilers. Don’t do dumb things. Please.
Two potential internal LW options for next season – Tyler Benson and Dylan Holloway.
Benson may be another Kahun or Ennis, that is a distinct possibility, but he could also “be more”. Too bad Covid took away the ability to find out, this season.
While there is no certainty that Holloway will indeed be a top 6 LW at the NHL level, from having watched about 85% of his hockey this season, I’m confident he will be. What I don’t know is how long it will take him to develop in to that player. There is a non-zero chance that he could be ready this season. There is a non-zero chance that it may take a full season and a half of development time (AHL and/or NHL development time).
I’m betting on Benson being more.
But this season, those aren’t viable options.
Holloway might be here sooner than you think.
Learn how to spell Millennial?
Back in my day they were called mommy boy.
Am I to late to the party?
Smith confirmed starter tomorrow. I’m sure Mikko will start on Thursday after they travel to Winnipeg.
Turris flew to meet team in Calgary and was on the ice after 7 days on protocol. Unlikely to play tomorrow.
Kass is possible but needs a doctor clearance after his broken hand (Matty).
Barrie is questionable with a LBI.
Did you mean to write “assuming the Jets bus from Winnipeg gets to Edmonton on time” since those games are being played here?
It is because of this very reason that words are a battlefield for the weaponized neo-puritan morality. Not because it is no longer believed.
I found it quite disappointing, really. This blog is resplendent with insightful commentary and fan opinion. It’s why I love it. I live possibly as far away from Edmonton and hockey as you can get so its rewarding to engage in a community even in a small way. Differing opinions can exist, I get that. But the vitriol was so unnecessary and weirdly very fragile.
Lads, you may like fighting. I think its a complete waste of talent and utterly at odds with the modern game. Hockey can still be the toughest game in Nth America without two guys organising a street fight. I urge you to read the accounts of these old enforcers who’ve killed themselves after suffering life long trauma because of CTE. It honestly terrifies me. Hockey players do face injuries sure. And they are remunerated more than you or I will likely ever get for that. But nobody deserves to lose the enjoyment of life for the benefit of our entertainment.
Maybe I am just a soft millennial. Perhaps being raised during the dawn of the internet developed an overactive sense of compassion or something idk. I just could not look at Derek Boogaards mum in the eye and tell her losing her son was worth it.
I have my own seperate issues with Boxing. I’ve an undying love for the spectacle. But I am struggling to reconcile my enjoyment of boxing with the knowledge that their brains are degrading. MMA I never liked, couldn’t find the beauty in it, but to each their own. Both of these sports are pugilistic by their very nature. Can’t fix the damage to the participants without stopping the sport all together. Hockey isn’t. Do we score fights? Are there rules on how to fight in the rule book (other than the penalty for doing so)? Can you punch your way to a Stanley? Are season awards given out to the best fighter? Do we have a HOF for fighting?
I understand that it might be disconcerting to see your understanding of the world shift but you dont hold a monopoly on reality by virtue of your perception. Things change, people differ. I’m not here to tell you how to live and you wouldn’t listen if I were to try. But change is inevitable and the world is gonna reflect perspectives that aren’t your own. That’s something my generation is teaching the ones above it.
The reality is that there are a greater number of serious head injuries caused by illegal hits and accidental in nature than there are in hockey fights. Take a look at the number of players that have lost their careers due illegal plays such as tripped into the boards head first. In the case of a hockey fight both men go into it knowing the possible repercussions. The instigator rule was supposed to get fighting out of the game but that only works if the officials use the rule for its intent. Every fight should get an instigator call.
Mohammad Jaber (@Moe_Jaber) Tweeted:
Spector and Stauffer talking about a possible Tyson Barrie extension at 3 years in the neighborhood of 5 to 5.5 million per season. #Oilers #LetsGoOilers
https://twitter.com/Moe_Jaber/status/1371903184902316036?s=20
That’s crazy talk. Hard pass.
Spector and Stauffer talk about many things.
They sure do.
Oil Country is famous for judging the GM on the thoughts of media.
Remember the weeks vitriol towards Holland re: Bouchard or Broberg and a 1st for OEL because Rishaug speculated that’s what the Yotes would ask for in a deal.
B-b-but Stauffer is connected to the Oilers. He must know what he’s talking about.
Yep.
In 2019, Media also talked for weeks about the Oilers picking yet another LHD – ranked in the 20’s – at number 8.
Many, many, fans did not believe the local media.
Sure enough, Philip Broberg was actually selected at #8.
Hall trade was telegraphed by the media.
I don’t believe that Ken Holland has provided those details to Mark Spector of all people to float to the fan-base.
If anything, i think that Holland’s selection of Broberg is fairly good evidence that he will do what he thinks is right irrespective of fan-base reaction.
Kenny.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ki3zzZ-GsGI
Indeed!
I would not be suprised if they re-signed both Barrie and Larsson. Holland and Tippett like vets. You see projected lineups for next year featuring Bouchard, Broberg, Samurokov, Bear, Jones, Lagesson, or any combination of 4-5 of them. There is no way Holland and Tippett go with that much youth
I think a big part of this is how Bear performs the rest of the season.
If he finds his game and plays 25 games similar to how he did last year (top pairing minutes, 20-22 minutes per game and doing well against elites, etc.) they can go in to next season penciling him in as a top 4.
If he continues to be “uneven” and unable to to find the level or consistency of last season, well, that could mean something different.
The whole fabricated #StrugglingBear narrative.
Not fabricated if one actually watches games and doesn’t believe that numbers are the be all and end all.
I think most would agree that Bear struggled last night – he had sparkling metrics including an xGF% over 65%.
Bear has had some games reminiscent of last season and he also has had games where he’s struggled mightily – last night was one of them – there were multiple little plays through the game where he fumbled the puck – he got out-battled twice in 20 seconds in the defensive zone.
His metrics do not represent his play this season.
Caufield got player of the year but Holloway was named to the Big 10 first all-star team.
I never watch any Wisconsin games. How much time did they play together? were they on the same line or just PP time?
Just PP and special times when they needed it (end of periods down a goal, for eg).
I haven’t really complained about NHL officiating on this blog in 2 or 3 years, but I found last night especially aggravating. The first call was an iffy trip on Ritchie behind the Oilers net. This was after I had seen 2 textbook trips on each of the 2 top scorers in the NHL.
I shouldn’t have to complain about this, because it seems pretty clear who most people pay to see play. The NHL does its stars and fans of the game an extreme disservice when they let this happen on such a consistent basis.
The whole sequence of events began with Khaira targeting a defenceless player, who was pinned to the boards by another Oiler, with his elbow directed at the head.
If the referees had done their job properly and assessed him the appropriate penalties, it’s quite likely the ensuing fight would never have occurred.
While it is always a shame to see a young player get injured, he is above all responsible for his own actions.
Sympathy should be tempered because it could have easily been the Flame player who suffered a concussion.
Thanks for the lecture Shane. You are such a compassionate person. Now that you apologized collectively for the group of people who’s opinions don’t align with your morals, and called out a couple for being “drunk” and thinking like cavemen, you can go about your day feeling proud that you performed a good deed for humanity.
You made this blog a better and a safer place. You deserve a pat on the back. Feel free to give yourself one
If it really means anything I don’t know, but I always preferred the Jack Palance character in Shane.
He’s extremely touchy on the reference to the character maybe it’s because he was trying to steal a man’s wife and kid behind his back.
Hahaha Hear, hear!?
One of many sly bits of insult in his post of “compassion and consideration”. Don’t forget, he apologized to ALL women on your behalf.
Even the little old 80 yr old woman who called into the post-game show last night, wondering why no one fought to defend Khaira and nearly said “bunch of pussies” on the air.
He didn’t call him A drunk….he said he WAS drunk. Do you have inside information?
Time for NHL to move on from fighting … every 5th fight ends in K.O.
players are too big and strong now
They can’t move on till they start calling the rulebook.
Teams will just keep smothering Leon and Mcdavid legally illegally what ever it takes Bieksa said it on national T.V that’s the game plan. You what to know why teams will continue to do this because they can.
I’m not advocating taking fighting out of the game, but I struggle to see how fighting is preventing this from happening or can ever prevent it from happening. The Oilers aren’t fighting players that are interfering/tripping/holding McDavid and Draisaitl.
No, but the Flames are fighting players who illegally target the head and don’t get penalized for it.
The replay shows that he clearly did NOT target the head. If he had been targetting, the elbow would have been out, his arm not by his side… and he wouldn’t have been decelerating.
His crime was negligence… ie the players are supposed to make every effort to AVOID striking the head, which is not the same as targetting, and IS something Khaira actually failed to do.
Watch again.
He raises his elbow just before impact.
What is the first point of contact…..
There is a difference between hitting the head and targeting the head. Khaira should have been penalized, full stop. Ritchie also should have been penalized when he was yapping on the ice during the faceoff. He was only out there at that time for violence, not to play hockey.
To be honest HH, I agree the hit was high, but I don’t think JJ is a dirty player that “targeted the head”. If anything, I think he let-up. He answered the bell and lost the fight. It was tough to watch. I’m getting old lol. I think an argument could be made that the refs could have jumped in, and/or Ritchie could have shown some restraint when JJ was on his knees (Laraque style) What are your honest thoughts? Did you enjoy seeing a guys eyes roll back in his head? I sure didn’t, and I didn’t like seeing Kylington get hurt either.
Not happy at all that he got hurt but most posters are absolving him of blame when in fact the hit was predatory and unnecessary since the Flame player was already pinned to the boards.
The officials should have called a 5 minute penalty but they didn’t and, as happens often in hockey, the players took it upon themselves es to police the game.
I appreciate your honesty.
Give it a rest Harper, we are talking about JJ and not a dirty player like Tkachuck Bieksa or Burrows.
They need to remove this ridiculous helmet rule if they want to continue to allow fighting. The window for landing a punch is now a small area of the face that is pretty much concussion central. That and they are breaking their hands regularily, which is not ideal either!
I’ve never been punched in the head with a hockey helmet on, but does it cushion the impact of the punch in any way? Or does it just increase the likelihood of both players injuring themselves.
Maybe the rule is there to discourage fighting without taking it out, to appease both sides of the debate? Make fighting less favourable to the players without removing it.
It does certainly cushion the impact of punches. That is why players are using their visors and helmets for protection in fights these days.
The idea behind the helmet rule was to prevent head injuries caused by falling during fights. It’s a well intentioned thought, but the trade off is broken hands and more punches to the most vulnerable parts of the skull.
It’s just not worth responding to comments/commenters like that. The tone/language is insulting. The arguments are nonsense (talking about open ice hits when the issue is with *illegal* plays). The mindset is regressive (it’s been that way since forever…so we should still live in caves?). Wish I had that ignore button.
“Mindset is regressive” Where does a person go to learn to write like that?
I’m sorry but how does this address Nuggy not being able to play 5×5?
“Nuggy” is offensive to me. I don’t know why, but I’ll let you know when my university prof “teaches” me?
Well, you see Zir. It’s not up to you in that situation. It’s up to Nuge if it bothers him or not.
https://mobile.twitter.com/JFreshHockey/status/1371215435899805700
Hall is still the player he’s always been, he’d be a godsend for this group.
And how about NUGGY that bum ass player, the fact he’s not in the top 5. Let him go, replace him, he’s not worth the money, he doesn’t contribute to winning, Oilers can get better. Hahahahaahah ????? he couldn’t play 5×5 if his life depended on it lol.
Run him out of town!
Taylor Hall is the GOAT of scapegoats.
The Sabres lost last night 6-0.
While Taylor Hall was on the ice they outchanced the Capitals 8-2, 6-0 in HDSC, had 83% of the XG, 71% Corsi. This while playing with the immortal Riley Sheahen and Tage Thompson.
It would be nice if he/they could finish, but those are crazy chance and shot numbers.
I have always liked RNH, but for some reason this lynch mob forming has captured my warped from not being properly indoctrinated imagination.
This might come as a huge shock, but “pussy” has other meanings. The one you are descibing is itself–uhm–colloquial.
Three negs… RIIIIGHT.
Because no one has ever use the term”pussy cat” to describe a person who lacks aggression. You people WANT to be offended. You’re looking for it.
Agreed. Take the bleeding heart BS elsewhere. Pretty soon we will all remain silent out of fear of offending someone. That’s productive. Problems are solved by having hard conversations at the risk of offending someone. I’m offended you’re offended ?
Oh…and if you choose to respond to me…use my preferred pronouns Ze/Zir please and thank-you?