Game Day "Canucks"

 

As much as we want to make this game and next about the Oilers playing a team game and winning, is it not more about how well Ryan Nugent-Hopkins plays? As much as the Oilers try to take the spotlight off of RNH, it continues to shine and the question looms. Maybe 10% of people actually believe it is in the best Interest of Nugent-Hopkins to go back to Jr and maybe 10% that believe it is in the best interest of the Oilers to send him back to Jrs based on ELC. Bottom line? Does he continue to shine or does he start to find it harder getting to the open ice as these last two games play out? I tend to be the believer that he will be fine. Time will tell, and that time continues tonight at Rexall Place against the Vancouver Canucks.

 

Not sure how I am feeling about tonight's game against those hated rivals to the west. The difference between Vacouver and the other teams we have played is there potent offence. Tonight will be a true test to see where the Oilers are at in regards to goaltending and defence. In order to hold the Canucks to 2 goals or less will be a accomplishment worth bragging about. (besides , I need the Sedins shut down, so my hockey pool doesn't get hit as bad from those dreaded Sedin Sisters)

 

I expect a pretty good game will be taking place tonight, you won't want to miss this one. If you can not catch the game live, make sure to record it, or have a buddy do so, cause it will be a high speed game of thrills. (Are the hockey gods going to curse me and now have them play a slow and uninspiring game?)

 

 

My predictions for tonight's game at Rexall Place. Gametime 7:30pm CHED630am/Sportsnet-West

REV'S Edmonton Oiler

Gameday Predictions Oct 25th/11

1. The Oilers will create more chances tonight and the puck will find the back of the net more then usual (3 goals or more tonight)
2. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins knows his 9 games are closing in and will be near the top of his game tonight. RNH will at least be on the ice for 1 goal that is scored for the Oilers
3. Hall will be gunning for some goals tonight to break out of this funk he is in. (He is in a funk? Not really but he thinks he is) I expect to see Hall on the scoresheet once again tonight.
4. I expect to see a fight of some short tonight , let's just hope it's not another staged fight that the NHL has come to be known for
5. Belanger has been a beast in the faceoff dot. That won't change and he will be over 55% tonight again but against a much tougher team who does win faceoffs.

(EV'S PREDICTIONS TO DATE: 7 FOR 15)
Unfortunately I was unable to blog the last game day predictions for the Rangers game, however I was 5 for 5 on my predictions (haha!) Of course I can't prove it, so my % is still needing a comeback as I can not include that in my numbers. As long as the Oilers continue to win, no problem.

As the great Ed Whalen used to say "In the meantime and in between time, that's it, for another edition of...REV'S PREDICTION" (bolded words are not Whalen's words)

For continued information on Oiler and Baron news and 2012/13 NHL draft watch, you can follow me on twitter at www.twitter.com/revingev

Oilers 2012 Draft Watch "Ryan Murray"

Today we examine the #3 ranked player from REVS 2012 Prospects List . Each player is unique in their own right and full of talent. The ranking does not reflect a mock draft of who a team may actually pick but rather who I would place as the best player available in that spot.

2.Ryan Murray

Pos: D
HT:6'1 ft
WT: 195 lbs
Born: White City, SK


Season:

2011-12	Everett Silvertips	Games 10	G 3	A 3	Pts 6
2010-11	Everett Silvertips	Games 70	G 6	A 40	Pts 46
2009-10	Everett Silvertips	Games 52	G 5	A 22	Pts 27

WHL fight video

Without question Murray is considered the top defenseman available for selection in the 2012 NHL Draft. Ryan is an impact player who plays for the Everett Silvertips of the WHL. At times in his rookie season he even averaged over 30 minutes in ice time a game. Quite the workload for such a young player.Ryan is noted for his great puck moving ability, and has been considered as a player in the mold of Scott Niedermayer.  Murray is not as much about being a point maker but rather has a bigger future as a two-way defenseman in the NHL.

Could you imagine a incredible all around defenceman manning our blueline in a couple years who can play like this guy? Another defenceman may move up the ranks by draft time, but hands down he is the best all around defenceman available that is a genuine puck mover. The concern at this moment has to be the injury he sustained recently.

'Dreaming'
-- Whitney/Murray
-- Gilbert/Smid
-- Petry/Potter

Of course that is only putting Murray into the lineup with players that are currently playing or have been playing on the roster. With other prospects that could be ready to go soon enough from the minors or Jrs in the next years you may have a far different look. My point is, I like that first pairing we could actually call a potential top defensive pairing in the NHL

For continued information on Oiler and Baron news and 2012/13 NHL draft watch, you can follow me on twitter at www.twitter.com/revingev

Nikolai Khabibulin / Old Balls Is Good

I have been openly critical of Khabibulin since his time with the Oilers began. Not only have I been critical of his "trouble" off the ice, but I've also been on him for his shoddy play on the ice as well. Outside of a few stretches where he's played well, he hasn't been that good as an Oiler.

Now before I praise the hell out of old balls (I call him that cause he's old for a hockey player at 38 years old), I'm reminded of those longer stretches of bad play and I kind of want to hold my tongue.

But I can't. Right now after 4 games played, he has a goal against average of 0.72 and a .969 save percentage. His last game played resulted in a shutout. Overall so far, those are pretty damn good numbers. He's currently one of the top goalies in the NHL. Wow! How is that not impressive?

But, all good things come to an end at some point. When is his time ending? Hopefully for Oiler fans, not too soon. We need him to play well this year.

-WRITTEN BY SMOKIN' RAY-

Gagner To Play Tonight On The Wing / Tonight's Line Combos

It's getting reported right now that Sam Gagner will be back in the lineup tonight vs the NYR. It sounds like he will replace Linus Omark and Gagner will play on the wing. Should be interesting to see how he does. It's been a few years since I seen him on the wing. If I remember right, he played wing occasionally with Cogliano and Nilsson.

OTHER OILERS NEWS:

Nik Khabibulin will get his second consecutive start tonight. It appears the goalie rotation is over. For now...

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins will play tonight. There was a loud out cry from fans yesterday complaining that he was going to sit out. Ok, ok. It was just me bitching about it.

Hall-RNH-Eberle
Smyth-Horcoff-Jones
Paajarvi-Belanger-Gagner
Eager-Lander-Petrell

Whitney-Potter
Smid-Gilbert
Barker-Sutton

GOILERS!!!

-WRITTEN BY SMOKIN' RAY-

A Real Wild One! The Oilers Lose In Fashion. Again

What a game that was!

I was absolutely blown away that this team lost yet another game after winning nearly the entire game. I'm not going to pick apart the game (there is enough blogs that do that already), but I am going to talk about what I liked.

- The kid line has been a thrill to watch. They buzz all over and created chances like no other. As they get older and wiser, these three are going to score at will. Oiler fans are lucky to have them wear the blue and orange.

- The crowd was buzzing right from the get go. Every play, every pass, they were on the edge of their seats and were loud. That was one of the best crowd responses I have heard in a long time. Well, except for the booing of Dany Heatley. That was rather annoying.

- Belanger and Horcoff were once again studs on the faceoffs. Horcoff was 50% and Belanger was 67%. Lander was also pretty good too at 46%.

- Andy Sutton and Ladislav Smid had 4 hits each. Big bodies banging the opposition is never a bad thing.

- Paajarvi, Smyth and Eberle each took 4 shots on goal.

- Ryan Jones scored the only goal for the Oil and was setup by Ryan Smyth. Beauty pass for a nice tip in goal or as I called it, 'the give and flow'. I didn't think those two would have chemistry. I was wrong. Now only if they could convince Horcoff to grow a mullet.

- Smid blocked 5 shots. FIVE! That was the team high tonight.

-Horcoff was a takeaway machine. He did it three times.

- Anton Lander impressed me. He took a beating and kept on going. He was on his game for sure. He played like he wants to stay.

MY STARS OF THE GAME

Ladislav Smid
Ryan Smyth
Nik Khabibulin (up until the tying goal)
Tom Gilbert
Shawn Horcoff
Ryan Jones
The kid line
Anton Lander

-WRITTEN BY SMOKIN' RAY-