1 - Steve Staios pushes D. Sedin into Roli, the puck trickles into the night, 1-0 Canucks. Are you stupid? How many times have we seen this? A dman, attempting to do his job, but does it horribly and costs his team on the scoreboard. Such a silly play... Why would you push the forward into your own netminder? The forward isn't going to get the interference call, but the dman might get a roughing call! Just watching the highlight made me sick to my stomach as to what is wrong with the Oilers, a total lack in judgment. Bonehead.2 - Sam Gagner gets just ridiculously demolished by Bieksa, Moreau comes in and picks up a 2-minute penalty. Again, lack in judgment. You're down 3-0 and giving Vancouver a PP isn't the best idea now is it? But what I thought was hilarious about this play is that, I understand Moreau is just doing his captain duties and sticking up for a teammates, but for goodness-sake don't fall flat on your ass and look like you need a wheelchair! What a goober. Seriously. Someone teach this guy how to stand up on skates! It's also not the first time Moreau has looked like an idiot during a fight (anyone remember what happened to him in Detroit)! So, to sum up that entire sequence... Gagner gets laid out, Moreau looks likes a clown and Vancouver picks up the man-advantage. Again, lack in judgment. Bonehead.
I don't mean to add onto the Oiler bashing that usually is reserved for my Monday Morning Recap, but I just thought I would point out two glaring mistakes by verteran players, who have possibly worn out their welcome.
On another side note, why did Garon start against Chicago? He didn't deserve it. Now, hindsight is 20-20, but surely Roli would have done better then a 9-2 shalacking. And, I'm not sure I buy the whole 'there's nothing he could have done on three of those goals' argument. Tips, deflections & screens are all part of the game and have been Garon's entire hockey career, and guess what, they happen even more often in the NHL then junior; maybe it's his lack of relexes, or his confidence or his in-ability to make that key save, whatever it is, Garon just isn't playing at an NHL level.I've heard that MacT wanted to 'save Roli' for the Vancouver game, but why? He's been playing hockey his entire life, do you honestly think playing back-to-back games is really going to hinder his performance? I sure don't. If it does, then I'd say he's in the wrong business. Look at the elite goalies in the league: Brodeur, Nabokov, Lundqvist, Kipper, Luongo, heck even Backstrom, do you think they would only play one game? Of course not. That's why they are elite. If Roli can't even play (let alone win) back-to-back games, then what does that say about him? I'll let you make your own judgment.
And to top it all off, after all the other negative things we could touch on: the loses, the inconsistency, ALL bonehead plays... They sit only 2 points out of a playoff spot. Oh, us Oiler fans just gotta love the wild wild west.
Cheers.
-Smith
K so you are right, and right again. Moreau did look like a dumbass and as much as i defend his captaincy, ive always thought it shouldave been given to Shawn Horcoff, he leads all current oilers in playoff points, he is our number 1 center, he puts up decent points, he plays the number one powerplay, and he has been here just as long as Moreau. Staios can be traded any day now and i wouldnt bat an eyelash, Strudwick or Smid can be playing instead of him. Garon has played like shit, and i completely agree that MAc T shoulda started Roli, because he is the hot hand, and thats what MacT said he was going to go with, but he kinda threw his own theory into the trash and explained it by saying he was keeping Roli for game #2, MacT, thats bullshit. The Oilers have a few guys riding along right now, and they need to get rid of them for guys who actualy perform, i would wayyyyyyy rather have Curtis Glencross at this point over Erik Cole, at least when Glencross wasnt putting the puck in the net, he was destroying guys. Kyle Brodziak makes me wonder sometimes, makes me wonder WHY THE HELL IS HE ON THE TEAM OVER SCHREMP?! Like seriously, ok the guy is a penalty killer and a grinder, well if you havent noticed lately, our penalty kill sucks, and we are an all-to kind hockey team. Im not going to get angry about Nilsson, Gagner, or Cog's, because these guys are still gonna be great players, they just need time. If the Oilers traded away Staios, Cole, Brodziak, Moreau(naming Horc capatin) and Garon, i wouldnt bat an eyelash. Truth is, what can we get for a pile of garbage?!
ReplyDeleteSteve, I know you never learned this lesson while playing for the Maroons because the moment a scrum began you ran for the hills but there's a little thing called standing up for your teammates. Sam Gagner is 4' 11' and weighs 120lbs and at one point was a serious scoring threat for the Oil. When some tool of a defencemen takes a run at him, you stand up for him. Moreau did his job. You're right, he looked like a bit of a moron, (i actually at first thought he might have knocked himself out), but at least he did it. Maybe he's not the right guy to do it, cuz he actually is somewhat of a threat right now, but no one else on the ice would have so he went right for it. Good play for el capitaino. I might be a bit more of a hard nosed coach than you, but I don't care if they're already down 3-0, I woulda told him to do it again. Do we need to talk about how many times the Oil have LET teams take runs at Hemmer?
ReplyDeleteWe probably still shouldn't be talking about the Hawks game cuz it still makes me sick, but I feel it is necessary. You probably would have been one of the armchair athletes in Rexall cheering when Garon got pulled. Dude were you not watching the game? The Oil were getting worked. If you replace Garon with Roli, heck even with Kipper, Patrick Kane still rips that shot under the bar after the Oil let him walk right in on yet another penalty kill. Same thing with the Brian Campbell goal. (Amazing shot, by the way) No chance. I know you don't like Garon, but I think you are forgetting one thing...no one here was ever pretending to think he was comparable with Kipper or Luongo. Same thing with Roli. If your argument is that the Oil need better goaltending, I would agree, they don't have a 70 game starter. Roli is 39 and Garon isn't getting the job done. But I will continue to disagree that the Chicago game has anything to do with Garon.
Why didn't you include your favorite buddy, Mike Comrie's, girlfriend in the pics the other day? :)
I agree that Moreau did the right thing by standing up for Gagner, absolutely. No complaints there. But for goodness-sake, protect by STANDING UP, not falling flat on your ass.
ReplyDeleteAs for Garon, whether the goals were his fault or not, I was never a fan of the guy. I never thought he could take us to the 'next level' like we need. I really have no sympathy for him.
What are your thoughts on playing in a division that features Kipper, Luongo and Backstrom and we are only featuring a Roli-Garon combo?
On a side note, I think DT says it best with...
ReplyDelete'Danny Taylor thinks "battling hard" does not translate to wins.'
alright to add my thoughts to the mix
ReplyDeleteFirst kyle point totals DO NOT EQUAL CAPTAINCY NEVER!!!!!!!!!!!! Strong leadership ON and OFF the ice makes a captain.
So for the whole which goalie dilemma? I have thought about this the past couple days, and have come up with two reasons why Roli should have started, First, Roli was hot, you argue with that he just got a shutout, what more does the guy have to do? And in a competitive division like ours, you need every win/point. Secondly the team plays differently when different goalies play, its like law, hahaha it just happens to work like that, if they feel the goalie is solid they may play more offensively, or if they think he isnt quite as good they may try to make up for it by playing defensively. I dont watch the oilers that much, but it seems like they play better when Roli is behind them