EDM: T. Gilbert (PPG, 18:39 - 2nd) , A. Cogliano (04:19 - 3rd) , G. Brule (12:48 - 3rd) , T. Hall (EN, 18:05 - 3rd) OTT: N. Foligno (06:30 - 1st)
GOALIES EDM: M. Gerber (W) OTT: B. Elliott (L)
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BEERS & JEERS PLAYER GRADES
The Cult of Hockey Grading System: 10perfect game, 9 extraordinary, 8 great, 7 good, 6 above average, 5 average, 4 below average, 3 poor, 2 terrible, 1 deserves to be in minors.
#2 JAMES VANDERMEER - (7)BEERS He was pretty good tonight (5 hits and 3 blocked shots). Best I have ever seen him. He out chanced the opposition and really played a smart game. No stupid chances taken. I liked what I saw from him for the whole 60 minutes. He played 18:55 and was +1 at games end.
#4 TAYLOR HALL - (6)He skates fast and stick handles well. But he needs to learn that he won't beat the whole team with his skill. He needs to find more ways to be successful. He did take a team high, 4 shots and scored the empty net goal..
#5 LADISLAV SMID - (5) He was average. Nothing special. He wasn't on for a single scoring chance for, but he did face some good lines against. He also finished -1. Considering the Sens only scored once, that sucks.
#6 RYAN WHITNEY - (6) I thought he played well but with all his ice time, he made some mistakes. The only notable one was the Alfredsson giveaway. But other than that he did well. He out chanced the opposition 8/3 and he played 26:21.
#10 SHAWN HORCOFF - (6) His line played against the Spezza line and that made their nights harder. Horcoff assisted on Hall's empty net goal and finished the night 7/10 for 41% on faceoffs.
#13 ANDREW COGLIANO - (8)BEERS Wow! He had himself another great game. Look at Mr. Fat Lip go. He was flying all game long. In 17:38 of ice time, he had a goal and an assist. This kid grew some heart in the last few games.
#14 JORDAN EBERLE - (6) Average. He still plays a solid game, but when you face a top line, it makes your job hard. He helped make the Hall goal happen and picked up an assist.
#16 COLIN FRASER - (5) Better game for Fraser. He did OK with 50% on faceoffs, a team best. His line started well with a great 1st shift. Would like to see him be more consistent.
#22 JF JACQUES - (5)He had a couple of big hits and that's about it. Not very effective when he's one of the hired muscle guys.
#26 KURTIS FOSTER - (5)He blocked 3 shots and took 3 shots. It's too bad he was out chanced, but I suppose that comes with the job when you are the 3rd pairing.
#27 DUSTIN PENNER - (7)BEERS He played a heck of a game with Cogs and Brule. He used his power wisely tonight and made things happen. He had 2 assists and out chanced the Sens 4/1. He blocked 2 shots and took 3 shots on goal. Penner plays well with Brule so I can't see why Renney would split them up. This line should stay out.
#28 RYAN JONES - (4)JEERS He was pretty bad. I have no idea why he's still with the team while Liam Reddox is busting his ass in OKC.
#29 MARTIN GERBER - (8)BEERS He played well. He controlled his rebounds well and really played a solid game. I was critical about him starting before the game started (I don't like starting a goalie against a former team). He proved me wrong. Atta boy Gerber!
#33 STEVE MACINTYRE - (0) DNP (Healthy scratch)
#35 NIKOLAI KHABIBULIN -(0) DNP (Injured)
#40 DEVAN DUBNYK - (0) DNP (Healthy scratch)
#43 JASON STRUDWICK - (0) DNP (scratch)
#45 SHAWN BELLE - (0) DNP (Minors)
#46 ZACK STORTINI -(7)BEERS He played good. He could have been played more. He only played 4:53, but took 3 shots on net. What!?! Who else can play as little and still create as much? Not many on this squad. Play him more Renney. Switch Stortini and Jones.
#49 THEO PECKHAM - (7)BEERS I should write a book.How to love Peckham in 30 days or less. The man was a machine again tonight. He was a team best +2 and had 2 hits and 3 blocked shots. I liked him a lot. My favorite guy on defence now. Maybe we should start a Peckham to the all star game campaign?
#67 GILBERT BRULE - (7)BEERSBrule is usually all over the ice (not always a good thing with him). He had a goal and an asissit and played 15:45.
#77 TOM GILBERT - (7)He was pretty decent. Hard to believe. He scored a goal, 4 blocked shots and 2 shots on goal.
#83 ALES HEMSKY - (0) DNP (Injured)
#89 SAM GAGNER - (6)He was OK. He had an assist and was the best on his line. Too bad Jones is hampering his play.
#91 MAGNUS PAAJARVI - (6) He was better than the stats suggest. He crashed the net and played hard. Would like to see him with more chances on the PK. He had a hit and a shot.
After another solid game last night from Andrew Cogliano, I'm starting to regret all the smack that I have been sending his way as of late. He's proving me wrong, and that to me, is impressive. I like that.
It seems as the tougher it (the game) gets for Cogliano, the more he steps up and responds. He had struggled plenty early in the season and a lot of people, including myself, were mighty pissed at him for failing so miserably.
But, since he took the first puck in the mouth and responded with a good game, it all snowballed from there. He's been better and better. Basically since the Ranger game where his line was lit up like a Christmas tree, (Cogliano a personal -4 for that game) he has been really good overall in the last 7 games. So impressive that we/I can't ignore it anymore. He has 2 goals and 1 assist in the last 3 games and is looking like he may get more in the games to come.
Did suffering through the pucks to the face make him stronger? Did he gain more confidence everytime a player would elbow, face wash or rub him in the face? Did the Boarding call against Turris change his play or mindset?
Don't know these answers, but I think over the last while (and in the future), Cogliano has been answering all these for us.
COL: K. Shattenkirk (05:50 - 1st) , M. Duchene (PPG, 03:04 - 2nd)
EDM: G. Brule (01:40 - 1st) , A. Cogliano (03:51 - 1st) , T. Hall (19:31 - 3rd)
GOALIES
COL: P. Budaj (L) EDM: M. Gerber (W)
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Photo by Andy Devlin / Edmonton Oilers Hockey Club
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BEERS & JEERS PLAYER GRADES
The Cult of Hockey Grading System: 10perfect game, 9 extraordinary, 8 great, 7 good, 6 above average, 5 average, 4 below average, 3 poor, 2 terrible, 1 deserves to be in minors.
#2 JAMES VANDERMEER - (4)JEERS He played limited minutes with 11:37. He was -1 and did very little to help the team. Really, what more do you expect at this point?
#4 TAYLOR HALL - (7)BEERSHe made some great plays tonight. He used his speed well and managed to pick up an assist AND score the game winner. WooOooOoo! Two point night for the rookie. H had 4 shots. His bad side? 3 giveaways. That will happen I guess when you play reckless like Hall.
#5 LADISLAV SMID - (6) He was back for his first game and didn't look 100% ready. Very rusty. He was nailed good twice and he seemed to play timid for most of the game. He was OK, just not himself. He had a team worst, 4 giveaways.
#6 RYAN WHITNEY - (6) I don't know how he logs so much time and yet registers nothing for stats? 1 missed shot, 1 blocked shot and 1 giveaway, yet he played 26:16. Go figure.
#10 SHAWN HORCOFF - (7) He had a great game on the faceoffs. He went 11/9 for 55%. Team best. He finds a way to play his game when he plays with hall and Eberle. Tonight was no exception. While only 3 shots hit the net, he took 9 shots in total. I say never take him off of this line.
#13 ANDREW COGLIANO - (8)BEERS I bust his balls a lot and I have to give him credit. When most people would be in the hospital or in bed, Cogs in out there busting his ass playing hockey with a busted face. He wore a full face shield and was a huge reason the Oilers had a great start. He was in on the first goal but no assist and scores the Oilers second goal. He was making stuff happen all game long.
#14 JORDAN EBERLE - (7) Another good game for the rookie. So poised and composed. Love this kid. He made some good things happen tonight and was awarded with an assist on the Hall winner. That goal happened because of Ebs hard work.
#16 COLIN FRASER - (2)JEERS So-so. He was the weak (can't believe I thought Jacques was better) link on the 4th line. He found himself 45 seconds of PK time, but only played 8:07. Other than skate up and down the center, what does he do to contribute?
#22 JF JACQUES - (3) JEERS He had a couple of big hits and had a shot. I thought Jacques was so coveted by the Oilers because he was physical? He's not living up to the billing.
#26 KURTIS FOSTER - (3)JEERSHe was -1 and tried to make stuff happen, but always seemed to come up short. He took 4 big shots, but all were blocked. He needs to find better openings. He's always firing shots off, but unless you or your teammates are scoring, your doing jack squat.
#27 DUSTIN PENNER - (8)BEERS He might have played one of his best games tonight. He was emotional and he played with passion. Much like the Penner from last year. He picked up an assist and was +2. Out of all the Oilers, he played great all game long.
#28 RYAN JONES - (4) He was pretty average. Not sure how to grade him as he only played 9:04. I didn't hate his playing, but nothing stuck out as good. 1 shot and 1 hit. Big deal. His line was burned for a goal against and I could see that coming before the game started. Hated this line combo.
#29 MARTIN GERBER - (6) His only start of the season and he gets and assist and a win. He made 35 saves and he made one huge save to keep the game tied at 2. And to think I said it was crazy to have him in instead of Dubnyk. He did have 3 giveaways. Count that up as jitters?
#33 STEVE MACINTYRE - (0) DNP (Healthy scratch)
#35 NIKOLAI KHABIBULIN -(0) DNP (Injured)
#40 DEVAN DUBNYK - (0) DNP (Healthy scratch)
#43 JASON STRUDWICK - (0) DNP (scratch)
#45 SHAWN BELLE - (0) DNP (Minors)
#46 ZACK STORTINI -(6) BEERS He was hitting everyone he could. It seemed like very shift he was trying nail someone. He did get credited for 2, but he had way more than that. He also had 2 takeaways. By Stortini's standards, he had a good game, minus a fight.
#49 THEO PECKHAM - (7) BEERSHe was 3rd star and he laid some huge hits in this game. Very impressive that when the team is called out, the rookies step up the most, including Peckham. He was credited with 6 hits a high for both teams. He finished +2.
#67 GILBERT BRULE - (7)Brule scores the Oilers first goal and keeps the fine play up all game. Both of his linemates were on fire tonight and that helped Brule keep it all going. He made some great plays and really tried hard to be productive.
#77 TOM GILBERT - (8)BEERSHe was on the ice for a few goals tonight. Only once did he make me curse. He ended the night +2 and had 2 assists.
#83 ALES HEMSKY - (0) DNP (Injured)
#89 SAM GAGNER - (3) JEERS He knocked in the Avs first goal and was -1. His only good quality tonight was his 3 shots on goal. But his overall hockey game sucked. He played 15:37 and was 50% on faceoffs.
#91 MAGNUS PAAJARVI - (6) He did find his game a little bit tonight. His legs looked quicker. He started the Oilers momentum swing right before Hall scored the winner. He took 3 shots.
Podcast #7 of "The Oil Terminal" is available for download, or listen from "The Oil Terminal" page located here. In this podcast, We catch up on the Barons weekend games, and other bits and pieces of news from the Oilers' Organization. Hopefully you will enjoy this weekly podcast of "The Oil Terminal".
PHX: M. Hanzal (00:48 - 1st) , W. Wolski (02:00 - 2nd) , L. Stempniak (PPG, 17:07 - 2nd) , M. Hanzal (13:45 - 3rd) , L. Stempniak (19:09 - 3rd)
GOALIES
EDM: D. Dubnyk (L) PHX: I. Bryzgalov (W)
3 STARS
1 - Ilya Bryzgalov, PHX 2 - Martin Hanzal, PHX 3 - Lee Stempniak, PHX
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BEERS & JEERS PLAYER GRADES
The Cult of Hockey Grading System: 10perfect game, 9 extraordinary, 8 great, 7 good, 6 above average, 5 average, 4 below average, 3 poor, 2 terrible, 1 deserves to be in minors.
#2 JAMES VANDERMEER - (5) He's been better lately and tonight he carried on. He did end up -1 but I really didn't mind him tonight. He had 4 hits and had 2 blocked shots.
#4 TAYLOR HALL - (6)BEERSHe was one of the best Oiler forwards. His line was buzzing for the last two thirds of the game. He tried endless moves and was beaten a lot. He's trying, just not succeeding. He had 2 shots.
#5 LADISLAV SMID - (0) DNP (Injured)
#6 RYAN WHITNEY - (4) He was a -2 player and was burned a few times. He had 3 shots and I kept waitng for him to be better. Never really happened.
#10 SHAWN HORCOFF - (7)BEERS He was pretty good with Hall and Eberle. He was 13/8 for 62% on faceoffs. He played his usual Horcoff game and had a few good chances to score. This is the best I had seen him since he's returned from injury.
#13 ANDREW COGLIANO - (5) I thought we was OK before he was smashed in the mouth again with a puck. Poor guy. He left and didn't return. He played 8:55 and was 50% on faceoffs.
#14 JORDAN EBERLE - (6)BEERS A decent game for Ebs. Like I said above, he was clicking with his linemates. They were making things happen. easily the Oilers best line. Can you say that in a 5-0 game?
#16 COLIN FRASER - (4) Like last game, nothing really to talk about. He had 2 shots and was 6/5 for 55% on faceoffs.
#22 JF JACQUES - (3) JEERS Waste of a roster spot. He's supposed to be the energy guy. The hit'em and make them pay guy. He's not making it hard on the other team at all. Stortini should draw back in after a quiet game by Jacques. 3 hits. That's it.
#26 KURTIS FOSTER - (7)BEERS He was pretty good. He worked the puck well and was never scored on. In his 18:38 of ice time, he had 2 shots and 4 hits. I liked Foster tonight.
#27 DUSTIN PENNER - (2) JEERS He was brutal. HE WAS ON THE ICE FOR 4 OUT OF THE 5 GOALS! While some will argue with me, 1 shot and 1 hit isn't great for a guy like Penner. He was -3 and I hope he gets the message Renney went the team after the game was over. Booooo!
#28 RYAN JONES - (4) He was put back on the 4th line in the 2nd period and only played 7:49.
#33 STEVE MACINTYRE - (0) DNP (Healthy scratch)
#35 NIKOLAI KHABIBULIN -(0) DNP (Injured)
#40 DEVAN DUBNYK - (6)I felt bad for him. He tried, but with zero help from the guys in front, he could only do so much. Not his fault for losing this game.
#43 JASON STRUDWICK - (0) DNP (scratch)
#45 SHAWN BELLE - (5) I thought he was decent. He was assigned back to Oklahoma after the game was over to make room for Smid coming back. Too bad they wouldn't send Strudwick instead. Belle was even and played 16:51 and had 2 shots and 2 hits. His low point? He had the Oilers only 2 giveaways all game. Oh well, thanks for trying hard. You are welcome back anytime.
#46 ZACK STORTINI -(0) DNP (scratch)
#49 THEO PECKHAM - (6) He was throwing some big hits and even nailed Paul Bissonette. He played pretty damn good for a guy with a hurt wrist. He had 4 hits and 3 blocked shots. His minus -2 results from his poor position play.
#67 GILBERT BRULE - (4)Brule sucked again. Not entirely in his control. After Cogliano left the game, Brule didn't see much ice after that. He's looking like he really is a bust. Too bad, I remember him with the Giants, he was a star.
#77 TOM GILBERT - (3)JEERSHe was terrible! -3 and was out of sorts all game long. So much for the good game we just seen him play. He had 3 shots and that's about it.
#83 ALES HEMSKY - (4) I was kind of liking him and then not liking him at the same time. He had some good rushes and was looking to have a big game. But he failed to go to those hard areas. He failed to make magic happen. Is that unfair of me? Perhaps... but we all expect it.
#89 SAM GAGNER - (3) JEERS He was OK. Until his line was roasted. Multiple times. He was a paltry 33% on faceoffs and only had 2 shots in 20:19. Not great considering he ended up -3.
#91 MAGNUS PAAJARVI - (5) He was bounced up to the 3rd line and was ultimately screwed on that after Cogliano was mouth pucked. He played 12:25 and seen no PP or PK time.
Andrew Cogliano - Just as the Oilers were gaining some momentum and were only down 2-0 at that point, Cogliano takes a delay of penalty for shooting the puck over the glass. Tough break, but it was a BTP. The Coyotes scored on the PP to make it 3-0.
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EDM: S. Gagner (06:48 - 2nd) , T. Hall (08:29 - 2nd) , A. Hemsky (13:29 - 3rd) , T. Gilbert (EN, 19:44 - 3rd) ANA: B. Ryan (PPG, 16:33 - 2nd) , S. Koivu (16:55 - 2nd)
GOALTENDERS
EDM: D. Dubnyk (W) ANA: J. Hiller (L)
3 STARS
1. Ales Hemsky - EDM 2. Jason Blake - ANA 3. Taylor Hall - EDM
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Photo by Debora Robinson/NHLI via Getty Images
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BEERS & JEERS PLAYER GRADES
The Cult of Hockey Grading System: 10perfect game, 9 extraordinary, 8 great, 7 good, 6 above average, 5 average, 4 below average, 3 poor, 2 terrible, 1 deserves to be in minors.
#2 JAMES VANDERMEER - (6) Big hits and decent play. On paper he had 2 hits and 2 blocked shots. Much improved lately.
#4 TAYLOR HALL - (8)BEERSHe was all over the place. He buzzed all game long. He scores a goal and had several chances to score more. He took 6 shots on goal.
#5 LADISLAV SMID - (0) DNP (Injured)
#6 RYAN WHITNEY - (7)BEERS He was booed every time he touched the puck. Nice effort against the old team. One assist and was +3. He played 26:45.
#10 SHAWN HORCOFF - (7) He feels better now. He picks up an assist and was better on the faceoff dot with 58%.
#13 ANDREW COGLIANO - (6) I thought we was OK. Not the same feisty Cogs that we seen a few games ago, but still decent. He was 3/1 for 75% on faceoffs. Maybe less is better?
#14 JORDAN EBERLE - (6) A good game for Ebs. He made some nice things happen and was looking like he was at home with Hall and Horcoff.
#16 COLIN FRASER - (5) He was OK. Nothing really to talk about.
#22 JF JACQUES - (5) Didn't do a whole lot. I kind of figured with Mac and Storts out that he was going to drop the gloves. He didn't. Despite only playing 5:52, he did have a team high 3 hits. Wouldn't 3 hits in under 6 minutes warrant more ice time? Especially when the Oilers could use some banging of their own?
#26 KURTIS FOSTER - (5) He was OK. A quiet game for Foster.
#27 DUSTIN PENNER - (8)BEERS He looks comfy back on the top line. He had 2 assists and took 3 shots and had 2 hits. He needs to play like this more.
#28 RYAN JONES - (5) He did his thing on the 3rd line. I thought he suited that line. 1 shot and 1 hit.
#33 STEVE MACINTYRE - (0) DNP (Healthy scratch)
#35 NIKOLAI KHABIBULIN -(0) DNP (Injured)
#40 DEVAN DUBNYK - (8)BEERS I thought he was great. He played very composed and was great at rebound control. Nice to see him finally get a win this season. More to come.
#43 JASON STRUDWICK - (0) DNP (scratch)
#45 SHAWN BELLE - (5) I thought he was OK. He had himself an average game.
#46 ZACK STORTINI -(0) DNP (scratch)
#49 THEO PECKHAM - (6) He was hard to play against. He was burned on a delay of game penalty as he shot the puck out the camera hole and not over the glass. That, if intentional, would have been the Bad Timing Penalty of the game as the Ducks scored then and once more to tie it shortly after.
#67 GILBERT BRULE - (6)Brule tries but can't be good enough. He had 3 shots and 2 hits and was +1.
#77 TOM GILBERT - (7)He wasn't terrible. He was awarded the goal on the Corey Perry own goal. He also had an assist to go with the +2 rating. You can add 2 more blocked shots to his total.
#83 ALES HEMSKY - (8)BEERS I couldn't believe that he really did get the message Renney gave him when he was benched a few games ago. He was leading the charge every time he was on the ice. Very impressive with hemsky tonight. He scored and had an assist in this game.
#89 SAM GAGNER - (7)He was the center on the best Oilers line tonight. Gagner scores his 5th of the year and had a solid all around game. He stunk at faceoffs. 0/7 for 0%. Ouch!
#91 MAGNUS PAAJARVI - (4) He was only on the ice for a team low, 5:33. Along with Jacques, they barely played. He registered no stats.
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After Stockton Thunder's Thursday night shoot-out win over the visiting Idaho Steelheads, the Thunder took another hit to their ever changing roster.
Center Chris D'Alvise, Thunder's top scorer with 17 points in 12 games, signed a Professional Try-Out Agreement with the AHL's Springfield Falcons.
Fortunately, left-winger Jason Pitton was back from his call-up with the AHL's Manitoba Moose and was able to suit up for tonight's game. Chase Ryan was activated off the Injured Reserve and was in the lineup. In goal for Stockton again was Garrett Zemlak, who was brilliant in his Thursday night debut.
Tonight's game did not have a good start for the Thunder. Nine seconds into the game, Fraser Clair took a holding penalty. This quickly turned into a 5 on 3 penalty kill after Anthony Aiello was charged with high-sticking in a defensive zone face-off.
The Steelheads didn't score on their first 5 on 3 powerplay, But Idaho had another 5 on 3 in the third period and scored on that, tying the game with the goal Stockton's Chris Lawrence got in the second period.
Once again, Garrett Zemlak had to be in top form. He bailed the Thunder out the whole 60 minutes of the game, and then in the 5 minute overtime period. Stockton had 7 powerplays and couldn't captilize on any of them. Sloppy passing and multiple turnovers made it hard for the Thunder to get anything going. And when a play would finally start to develop in their offensive zone, the inability to take advantage of the juicy rebounds and partially open net Idaho's goalie Mike Zacharias kept leaving was frustrating to watch.
The Thunder was defeated by the Steelheads in the shoot-out. Mike Gabinet and John Swanson scored shoot-out goals for Idaho, but Chris Lawrence was the only one from the Thunder to get a puck past Zacharias.
One bright spot in this game is that even with tonight's shoot-out loss, the Thunder is atop the ECHL's Western Conference with an 8-1-4 record, 20 points, and a .769 winning percentage.
Tomorrow the Stockton Thunder hosts the Victoria Salmon Kings. Garet Hunt and Jesse Gimblett will be available to play now that they have served their suspensions.
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