Calgary

So next up is the Calgary flames. I would imagine that Khabibulin gets the start tonight, setting JDD up for tomorrow against the Canucks. Khabi has been playing out of this world lately and I think it will be an easy duel for him. Especially giving how Kipper has been playing the last few years (declining)

I'm going to be paying extra attention to Peckham tonight. I have this idea that Staios is starting to be very expendable and if Peckham can make a real impact tonight, it will go a long way toward staying on the team. I want to see him play a solid shutdown role and maybe add a fight in there somewhere. This is a good litmus test for the Oilers, if they can bring the toughness that they need AND still keep the offence they have been exhibiting this will be a huge game. The last two meetings between these teams have been damn good but the Oilers came up on the short end with giving up late goals. Since then they have made a concerted effort to ensuring there is no late period gaffs that costs them the game.

I'm looking forward to seeing if anyone takes a little revenge against Iginla for the slewfoot against Souray the last time they met. I know Moreau tried to fight him soon after, but please. That was about the worst fight i've ever seen and there was no real angst afterword. If Peckham takes the initiative and makes a run at Iggy tonight, he will earn alot of respect in that room.

Well here's to a good weekend of hockey. Go Oilers Go!

AHH CHOOOOOOO!!!!

Wow it's amazing how fast a flu can spread in a locker room. Communal water bottles, showers, puck bunnies? And it seems the Oilers are no exception. With no less than 3 injured players the last thing they need is to have the team come down with the flu. And yet thats exactly what has happend. Like a Wierd Al tune, it just gets ~better and better~

It sounds like Smid is good to go, and if Hemsky could play the other night I wouldnt expect him to take tonight off. But Brule is out, Comrie was sent home during practice and who knows who else is under the weather right now.

And to top it off, they play every second night until the end of the month now, and dont have any significant time to recover. If I were Quinn I would be praying to the hockey gods that no more mishaps happen for a while, and I would be shaking my fist at the ColdFX(c) head office at the same time.

At least the Blue Jackets arent exactly an elite team. No team should be taken lightly IMHO but lets just say I think there will be less wear on the Oilers tonight and if a couple players can show up offensively they will be alright.

Penner - Gagner - Hemsky line

Ok, Im not an expert on all things coaching.  So maybe Quinn has a reason to pull this move. But I have to ask....WHY??? Gagner and Hemsky have not shown any chemistry in the past, and there is NO reason to think they will now. On top of it, I dont see how putting your 2 best playmakers on a line with a guy not known for his sniper abilities is even an option. Penner has shown all kinds of motivation and is finally the player they thought they were getting. A power forward. Not a sniper. Neither Gagner nor Hemsky can be relied upon to take a one-timer and both are looking to pass more often than not. Is Penner expected to suddenly bust out a Souray type shot? Or maybe Gagner and Hemsky plan on shooting every chance they have....but whatever the reason it better be good.

My guess is that the line will not see more than a few mins in the first before they are broken up.

Oh well. Game time is in about an hour and a half. Time to run to the beer store and don the jersey. I guess we will see what we see.

***update***

Well it appears that I was completely wrong about that particular line. Hemsky and Gagner showed that all elusive chemistry and Penner was a beast. Not just a beast, but a beast with a shot. (not Souray esc...but still decent)

I will still hold judgment on the line for now. I still say that it will be difficult for a power forward to take advantage of 2 playmakers. Yes he needs passing, but they both seem much more interested in getting the one-timer off. And before tonight he didnt seem the type to capitalize on those. But if they can keep that up, it will be a hell of a line.