The Oilers finished the season off on a very low note, dropping a 7-2 decision to the Mighty Ducks. Deslauriers looked dreadful and the whole team stumbled into the off season. But a few hours after the end of the game, Sheldon Souray's official "I want a trade" demand comes out via a story from Spector at Sportsnet.
So aside from some nice timing, this story makes the artist formerly known as Big Sexy look like an absolute diva. Wah wah wah, no one is holding my hand. Wah wah wah, no one is calling me even after I was selfish, went after Iginla, broke my hand and ruined any chance to move me before the trade deadline. Wah wah wah, they demanded I play hurt. Wah wah wah, I could have went elsewhere for more money.
Honestly, this interview makes it more difficult to trade you Sheldon. Why are you going public? You're not endearing yourself to anyone. I don't know if any of this temper tantrum is accurate but I do not like the public thrashing you are doing of my Oilers. Sure I may not sure agree with the management of this team from time to time, but this seems like a jilted boyfriend who is upset that his girl (Oilers) don't want him anymore.
So if players are leaving with a smile on their faces, don't worry Sheldon, the fans will be smiling when you finally depart. Enjoy doucheland with Prongs.
Edit: The more I think about this article, the more uneasy I am about the direction of this team. Katz needs to look into this and if they are pressuring players to return from injury too soon (which has made the rumor mill), that is completely unacceptable and heads should roll.
- The Oilers were killed right from the get go. It was so sad to see this in the last game of the year. In fact, it didn't get any better. The slaughter continued for a full 60 minutes. The final shot count was 45-31 in favor of the Ducks.
The Good:
- There wasn't much good tonight. Mike Comrie scored his 4th goal in 3 games. That was great to see. I started the question, "Should the Oilers resign Mike Comrie next season?". The response surprised me. We all know why we hated the guy previously, but most people that replied were in favor of bringing Mike back. Not for a lot of money though. He'd need to sign cheap.
- Ryan Whitney played pretty good. He had a goal and an assist and played hard against his old team. I was surprised to hear the Ducks fans boo Whitney. I know I won't boo him. I quite like him.
- For the first time this year, Patrick O'Sullivan was the best on the team in +/- with a +2 rating. What's up with that?
- I also thought that Tom Gilbert again played good.
- Zack Stortini was a dominant with 8 wins 4 losses for 67% on faceoffs. Wow! Kind of a shocking stat.
The Not So Good:
- Jeff Deslauriers ended our who's better conversation from yesterday tonight. Deslauriers is not the guy we choose. WE WANT DUBNYK!
- I'm glad that I don't have to watch the Chorney(-3)/Strudwick(-2) train wreck anymore this year. They were brutal again tonight.
- The Linglet/Pouliot/Jones line was brutal tonight. They were not only on for three goals against, they were part of the problem.
- I can't (well, I can) believe that the Oilers crap in the bed in the last game of the year. Was this a telling tale for the fate of the two goalies? Was this a last glimpse of Moreau, Pisani and Souray (I know he wasn't playing)?
The Side Dish:
- The Falcons played tonight and were the opposite of the Oilers. Yes, they won their game. Here is the recap.
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April 11, 2010- The Springfield Falcons rattled off seven unanswered goals, including two each from Chad Wiseman and Jordan Eberle, as they defeated the Manchester Monarchs 7-3 in the season finale at the MassMutual Center Sunday afternoon in front of 5,678 fans. Chris Minard scored a goal and notched four assists as he, Eberle and Wiseman combined for 12 points in the win.
“We generated offense, scored some pretty goals, and didn’t give up a lot defensively,” said head coach Rob Daum. “We’re a better team then our record would indicate. But it was a nice way to go out.”
Eberle’s two goals came in the second period. The first, at 6:22, was tipped out of the air after a Minard shot was deflected. Eberle’s second goal was a one-timer wrist shot from Wiseman and Minard at the 15:57 mark of the middle frame and made the game 6-1.
Wiseman scored his second of the night at the 2:55 mark of the third period as Minard picked up his fourth assist of the game and Eberle got his third point of the night.
After Thomas Hickey gave the Monarchs the lead with his 1st goal of the season past Olivier Roy at the 2:04 mark of the first period, the Falcons rattled off four un-answered goals in the first frame. The four goals came on only nine shots.
Wiseman tied the game with his 23rd goal of the season roofed past Manchester starter Jean-Francois Berube. Minard picked up his first assist of the game on the goal and Jeff Petry was credited with the second, his third of the season.
The Falcons capitalized with 40 seconds left on a five-minute power-play with Ryan O'Marra's 12th goal of the campaign. Bryan Lerg took the puck to the net and kept his balance as Manchester defenders tried to knock him off the puck as he picked up an assist on the goal. O'Marra took the Lerg rebound and put it back on net as it trickled through Berube's legs.
The Falcons earned the five-minute power-play when Manchester captain Drew Bagnall was given a major penalty for kneeing Geoff Paukovich. In addition to the major, Bagnall was given a game misconduct.
The Falcons added the third goal at the 13:01 mark of the period. Minard snapped a one-timer feed from Liam Reddox, who had two assists, past Berube for the short-handed goal. Reddox picked up his second assist of the night and Las Vegas native Eddie Del Grosso picked up his second assist of the season on the goal.
At the 16:21 mark of the first period, Colton Fretter increased his team-lead in goals and netted the Falcons’ final goal of the period when he put his 26th off the post and into the net. Ryan Donald picked up his first career point on the Falcons' goal that made it 4-1.
The Yale alum, Donald, also mixed up with Monarchs’ players twice. In the second period, Donald and Juraj Mikus received roughing penalties after a pushing and shoving match in front of the Falcons net. In the third, Donald dropped the gloves with heavyweight Kevin Westgarth.
Roy was solid as he picked up his first career AHL win, making 28 saves in the win. The Amqui, Quebec native was appearing in his third game for the Falcons after playing this season with the Cape Brenton Screaming Eagles.
David Kolomatis scored his 8th goal of the season 16:42 and John Zeiler added his 11th goal at 18:23 to cut the Falcons lead to 7-3 and end the Falcons streak of seven unanswered goals.
Three Stars of the Game presented by Springfield College
1. SPR Chris Minard (1 goal, 4 assists, +7)
2. SPR Chad Wiseman (2 goals, 2 assists)
3. SPR Jordan Eberle (2 goals, 1 assist)
Game Night Notes ...
Game Setup: The final game of the season will be the 8th time that the Falcons will meet the Manchester Monarchs. In the previous seven match-ups, the Falcons are 1-5-0-1 against the Monarchs in the previous games. Springfield's lone win came back on October 16 at the MassMutual Center. The Falcons won 4-1 on the strength of goals from Geoff Paukovich, Chad Wiseman, Colin McDonald, and Colton Fretter who picked up the game-winner in the second period.
In the most recent meeting the Monarchs skated away with a 5-2 win over the Falcons on February 24 in Manchester. Springfield fell behind 4-0 before Charles Linglet and Chris Minard cut the Monarchs lead in half in the second period. Unfortunately, the Falcons could not complete a comeback. Devan Dubnyk made 35 saves in the game for the Falcons.
Manchester has already locked up a playoff spot and have clinched at least the third seed in the Atlantic Division.
Falcons Player Notes:
• Chad Wiseman has two goals and two assists in six games against the Monarchs this season.
• Colton Fretter had a goal in the Falcons one win over Manchester this season back on October 16. Fretter has added another goal playing in all seven games. Fretter leads the Falcons with 24 goals on the season.
• Bryan Lerg has a goal and an assist playing in six games against the Monarchs this season.
• Chris Minard has two of his 18 goals this season against Manchester in only four games.
Monarchs Player Notes:
• Manchester goalie Jonathan Bernier was named the Aledge “Baz” Bastien Memorial Award winner for the 2009-10 season. The award is given to the most outstanding goaltender in a season. Bernier has played in 57 games this season for the Monarchs this season going 30-20-6-9 with a 2.03 goals against average and 0.937 save percentage. Bernier leads the league in saves and shutouts with nine. Bernier leads the league in save percentage and is second in GAA.
• Bud Holloway has scored three goals and tallied seven assists while playing in every game against the Falcons.
• Justin Azevedo has six points, two goals and four assists, in just four games this season against the Falcons.
• Marc-Andre Cliche and David Meckler have both scored thee goals against the Falcons this season.
Falcons Player Movement Recap:
Jordan Bendfeld was re-assigned to the Stockton Thunder this week. Bendfeld played in 10 games for the Falcons this season picking up an assist and seven penalty minutes.
The Falcons also signed two players to Amateur Tryout Agreements. The first player was Chris Vande Velde, a 6’2” 204-pound Moorhead, Minnesota native who played four years at the University of North Dakota. Vande Velde was a fourth round selection, 97th overall, by the Oilers in 2005. With the Fighting Sioux, Vande Velde put 18 goals and 17 assist in the 2008-09 season.
Ryan Donald was the second player signed to an ATO this week. Donald, a native of St. Albert, Alberta, is coming off four seasons playing for the Bulldogs at Yale University. While at Yale, Donald scored five goals and notched 19 assists in 123 career games. Donald’s best season game this year when he scored twice and assisted on six other goals.
Monarchs Player Movement Recap:
This week the Monarchs released goalie Dave Wilson from his ATO. Wilson was signed on April 2 to replace Jonathan Bernier who had been on loan to the Los Angles Kings, the Monarchs NHL affiliate. Wilson did not appear in a game during his brief stint with the Monarchs.
Doug Nolan was also released from his Professional Tryout Agreement this week. The Quincy, Mass native played in 19 games for the Monarchs this season picking up three assists and 31 penalty minutes. Nolan played four years for the UMass-Lowell Riverhawks before beginning his professional hockey career that has taken him around the world, including stints in Russia and Finland. Nolan was originally an 11th round selection by the Toronto Maple Leafs.
*Reprinted by Oilers Jambalaya with permission by the Springfield Falcons AHL Hockey Club. The Springfield Falcons are a proud affiliate of the Edmonton Oilers (NHL)*
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Edmonton Oilers (27-46-8) at Anaheim Ducks (38-32-11)
STOCKTON, Calif. - The Stockton Thunder erased two separate two-goal deficits in the first period and scored six unanswered goals, led by James Bates' four points (1g-3a) and a pair of goals by Matt Robinson, eliminating the Alaska Aces in a 8-5 victory in Game 4 of the National Conference Quarterfinal round of the 2010 Kelly Cup Playoffs before 4,583 fans at Stockton Arena on Saturday.
The Thunder, who won the best of five series, 3-1, and became the first team in ECHL history to eliminate the Alaska Aces from the first round of the Kelly Cup Playoffs, advanced to the second round for the second straight year. Ten different Thunder players hit the scoresheet and Andrew Perugini made 40 saves in net.
STOCKTON VS. ALASKA - NATIONAL CONFERENCE QUARTERFINALS
(Stockton wins series, 3-1)
Game 1: Stockton 3 at Alaska 4 Game 2: Stockton 5 at Alaska 2 Game 3: Alaska 4 at Stockton 7 Game 4: Alaska 5 at Stockton 8 * If necessary
"Your goal all the time is to get into the playoffs and then look to go as far as you can," said Thunder head coach Matt Thomas. "We got through a big challenge in getting past the first round. I've never seen a series as volatile as far as lead changes. I loved the way we competed. There was no ‘give-up' in the team's vocabulary and we really found a way to win hockey games, especially at home here."
J.F. Caudron beats Billy Sauer in the first period, giving the Thunder their first lead of the game, 4-3, in the midst of a five-goal rush in the first 20 minutes.(photo by George Steckler)
The Thunder began the game the way that Game 3 ended - a five goal flurry - eventually chasing starter Billy Sauer from the Alaska net after fighting back from 2-0 and 3-1 deficits. T.J Fast and Jarrett Konkle put Alaska ahead 2-0 with goals in the first 4:55, coming 24 seconds apart.Robinson's power-play goal got the Thunder on the board, trailing 2-1 with 14:30 left on a snap shot from the slot that beat Sauer to the glove side, but Konkle finished off a rebound with 8:09 left to restore Alaska's two-goal lead.The Thunder responded in roaring fashion, scoring four goals in a span of 5:27. Just 16 seconds after Konkle's second goal of the game, Chris D'Alvise snuck a wrist shot through Sauer's five-hole from the left circle, drawing the Thunder to within a 3-2 deficit.
Bates then converted off a screen to tie the score at 3-3 on an Anthony Aiello drive from the high slot for a power-play goal with 5:32 remaining in the period.
Completing a three-goal rush in a span of 3:41, J.F. Caudron's wrister from the left circle found the back of the net just 20 seconds after Bates' marker, putting the Thunder ahead for good at 4-3, lifting Sauer in place of Scott Reid.
The Thunder continued to roll, when Jordan Bendfeld darted out of the box after a Thunder penalty kill, took Jason Pitton's lead pass off the left boards and scored on a breakaway with a snap shot between the hash marks with 2:21 left to boost the lead to 5-3.
Dating back to the third period of Game 3, the Thunder finished the first period by burying a whopping ten goals in a span of 28:37.
Garet Hunt's first goal of the playoffs pushed the lead to 6-3 when his dump in deflected off Reid's glove and into the net with 3:34 gone in the second period.
Igor Gongalsky's first goal of the postseason hiked the lead to 7-3 on a wrist shot from the left circle, and Alaska's second goaltending change in the game lifted Reid in place of the original starter, Sauer.
Alaska closed the gap to 7-4 with 12:02 left in the game when Anthony Peluso scored off the rush on a wrist shot from the right circle. Yet, Robinson put the game out of reach with his second goal of the night with 8:50 left, converting Oren Eizenman's centering pass from between the circles for an 8-5 lead.
Konkle completed a hat trick effort with 5:10 left in the game on a 5-on-3 power-play goal, sealing the game. Alaska would get no closer despite pulling Sauer for an extra attacker in the final two minutes of the game.
NOTES: The Thunder scratched Riley Emmerson (inactive list), Brett Hemingway (inactive list), Trevor Hunt (inactive list), Justin DaCosta (healthy) and Colin Hemingway (injury, day-to-day) ... Stockton won a series clinching game on their own home ice for the first time in team history ... the Thunder power-play converted at a 2-for-6 effort and finished the series with a 6-for-21 effort (28.5%) ... Alaska's previous earliest exit was the second round (National Conference Semifinals) in 2007-08, losing to Las Vegas ... the Thunder improved to 6-2 in the previous eight lifetime home playoff games.
The Thunder opens Game 1 of the National Conference Semifinals against the winner of the Bakersfield/Victoria series, a best-of-seven affair (schedule to be announced). All road games can be heard on radio at 1280 KWSX and all games can be viewed online exclusively at www.stocktonthunder.com, courtesy of B2 Networks (audio is free of charge). Tickets are available by calling (209) 373-1700 or by visiting www.StocktonTickets.com.
The Thunder was voted "Best Local Sports Team" by readers of the San Joaquin Magazine, has led the ECHL in attendance for four consecutive seasons and drew 223,854 fans to Stockton Arena in 2008-09. Season Tickets for 2009-10 are on sale now. For more information about tickets, merchandise, or other inquiries contact the Stockton Thunder offices at (209) 373-1500 or visit http://www.stocktonthunder.com/
THREE STARS:
1. STK - 28 James Bates
2. STK - 71 Matt Robinson
3. STK - 10 Chris D'Alvise
*Reprinted by Oilers Jambalaya with permission from Stockton Thunder Professional Hockey Club, ECHL. The Stockton Thunder are a proud 'AA' affiliate of the Edmonton Oilers (NHL) and Springfield Falcons (AHL) *
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Oilers Jambalaya is in no way, shape or form associated with the Edmonton Oilers or the Bakersfield Condors. This is a fans blog for fans. We happen to love those teams, so we write about them.
The Oilers finished the season off on a very low note, dropping a 7-2 decision to the Mighty Ducks. Deslauriers looked dreadful and the whole team stumbled into the off season. But a few hours after the end of the game, Sheldon Souray's official "I want a trade" demand comes out via a story from Spector at Sportsnet.
