Game 2 2023-24: Canucks at Oilers

I don’t know what to tell you man. We flushed everything, replaced the plugs and points, checked the hoses, filter, did the timing twice to top dead centre (Kenny Holland did it by ear, swear to God) and this thing should be tearing up the blacktop. Leave it here, give me the weekend. If I don’t find the problem and fix it by Sunday morning, you can have your money back no hard feelings. Deal?

THE ATHLETIC

• Lowetide: How the Edmonton Oilers’ Connor Brown contract could impact roster decisions
• DNB: Stanley Cup-aspiring Oilers have a long way to go after ‘big gut punch’ in season opener
• Lowetide: Why the Oilers’ opening-night roster is short two foundational pieces
• DNB: Why Raphael Lavoie didn’t make the Oilers and other roster questions ahead of regular-season opener
• Lowetide: Oilers’ Brady Stonehouse signing an important indicator for the future
• Lowetide: Why the Oilers’ veteran-laden AHL team offers better depth
• DNB: Jack Campbell has earned the right to start opening night for the Oilers
• Lowetide: Why Mattias Ekholm’s injury situation is a worry for the Oilers
• Lowetide: With Oilers rookies in short supply, expect more from sophomores
• DNB: Five intriguing Edmonton Oilers developments from the preseason
• Lowetide: Do the Edmonton Oilers have a blockbuster trade in their future?
• DNB: Oilers release Brandon Sutter from tryout offer
• Lowetide: Oilers reaching critical pressure point with prospect Raphael Lavoie
• DNB: A third Edmonton Oilers tenure, no matter the odds, is Sam Gagner’s goal
• Lowetide: Should the Edmonton Oilers alter how Connor McDavid is deployed?

WHAT TO EXPECT IN NOVEMBER

• On the road to: VAN (Expected 1-0-0) (Actual 0-1-0)
• At home to: VAN (Expected 1-0-0) (Actual 0-0-0)
• On the road to: NAS, PHIL (Expected 2-0-0) (Actual 0-0-0)
• At home to: WPG (Expected 1-0-0) (Actual 0-0-0)
• On the road to: MIN (Expected 0-1-0) (Actual 0-0-0)
• At home to: NYR, CAL (Expected 1-1-0) (Actual 0-0-0)
• Overall expected result: 6-2-0, 12 points in 8 games
• Actual October results: 0-1-0, 0 points in 1 game
• Oilers in 2023-24: 0-1-0, 0 points in 1 game

The Edmonton Oilers have a five-on-five goal share of 0-5. I don’t think we’ll see 0-10 tomorrow morning, but if the club struggles tonight, I don’t think we can just let it lie. Perhaps we’re seeing a different Vancouver Canucks team, maybe the Oilers got old in a hurry on the wings, maybe the answer to ‘is our children learning’ a resounding “hell no!” across the board. I don’t believe the Oilers are a bad team. Time to show the boss (fans) you’re a great one.

HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA

Saturday as children had a different feel in the 1970’s. We had chores, I was responsible for bringing in buckets of coal (a truly filthy experience), making sure kerosene was in the coal oil lamps, and the goats were fed. We eventually got power to the old McLaren school but the first year there was tough. My Dad broke the ground on much of those two acres and planted vegetables (radishes to the sky!) and built Mom two lines to dry the clothes outside.

We were poor. The great thing about being 10 and poor is you don’t know it. At all. I had my brother, my dog, my parents and Dad discovered Wagon Wheels at the Co-op maybe 1972 summer and they were fantastic. We had second hand clothes and I’m sure people must have noticed, but honestly it wasn’t until much later that I realized we didn’t have much in those years.

My Dad earned $1.12 an hour from a man named Frank Franks (would I lie to you?) and Mr. Franks gave him all the work he could all year long. Eventually, Mom had to work at the Pine Island Lodge. She worked overnights. All the men in the house hated it. Mom would drive in to town after 8pm, and the three men (me, my brother and Dad) would try not to get on each other’s nerves. Didn’t work.

I had music, hockey, baseball, wrestling and a vivid imagination. I got so good at making things up in my mind that I could (not lying) run through an entire baseball game in my mind. Steve Renko might start for the Expos against Jack Billingham of Cincinnati. That meant I (as manager, replacing Gene Mauch) would run the lefty bats (notably Boots Day, a wonderful name) until Fred Norman came in from the bullpen (he was a lefty). The LH bats (like Mike Jorgensen at first base) would give way to Hal Breeden, with Clyde Mashore replacing Day.

I found refuge in sports, not because I was poor, but because I loved the games. I could do the same thing with music. If you play “Highway Star” my mind soars, the tumblers click, and I’m riding my bike down a dirt road with my friend Brian. We’re going too fast and are going to wipe out, only a matter of time.

Dad eventually got a job at Husky. You’ll never hear me say an unkind word about oil, because Husky got my Mom back from the Pine Island Lodge. Later, we moved to Maidstone, Dad worked for CN and I got some odd jobs, earned some pay, and spent it on The Hockey News and the Allman Brothers.

You might read these words and feel sorry for that 10-year old kid. I encourage you to take another lesson from this story. I was a rich kid in many ways. My parents loved me, supported me, taught me right from wrong. My Dad would tell me I would have to work hard to “provide for your family” so often I still use that phrase in my own mind. There are few things in life more important than getting up in the morning, going to your job and giving an honest effort. Some days are diamonds, some days are stones.

Tonight, the Edmonton Oilers tell us who they are. I’m betting diamonds.