Jan. 30, 2007 - Issue #589: From the Notebooks of Dr Brain
In The Box
Quick points and some random bullshit
Win one. Lose one. Last week saw another way up and way down Oiler performance with an embarrassing 5-1 home loss to San Jose and a revitalizing 4-3 win over the LA Kings. This week’s In The Box, in an off-handed salute to the All-Star Skills contest, will feature a series of rapid-fire shots, passing observations and speedy notes.
On Jan 27, 1984 Wayne Gretzky ended a 51-game point-scoring streak that began at the beginning of the season—an NHL record. On Jan 27, 2007 Ryan Smyth was rolling with a two-game point-scoring streak. • Shawn Horcoff has 13 points (5 goals, 8 assists) in 12 January games. Box score: Horcoff. Horcoff: box score. Remember each other? • It’s just not the same seeing pics of the last Oiler players’ hospital visit without Big Georges bear-hugging kids. Laraque did more than just the public photo-ops, though. • Dwayne Roloson already played 44 games as of last Monday. He has never played more than 50 games in an NHL season (2003-04 with Minnesota). • Ken Dryden's number 29 finally went to the rafters in Montreal. Not entirely sure why he had to wait almost 30 years, but the six-time Stanley Cup winner is surely deserving. • Of Ryan Smyth’s first 25 goals this season, 19 of them (76 per cent) came in nine games of Smyth’s 40 (22 per cent) with seven two-goal games and one hat trick. • Four of five league leaders with powerplay goals are Euros. Four of five league leaders with even strength goals are Canadians. • Remember Brad Winchester? Does MacT? • After losing on Friday, Ales Hemsky told the media that “we suck…and you can start with me” and followed that with a four-point night against LA. That’s called character and accountability. Good qualities, both. • When did Atlanta get so good? And who in Atlanta cares? • Since his playoff “coming-out party” I miss stodgy, square Paul Lorieau cranking out the anthem. • Who says that Swedes are the best passers? Four of the top five assist leaders are Canadian. • Some happy Alberta couple named their child DiezelBlaze last year. I hope you are nice people and your child forgives you. • The Oiler record for most goals in a season for a rookie d-man is nine. That record, held by Paul Coffey and Marc-Andre Bergeron, looks safe this year. • While a lot of people are less than enthused by Lupul’s lack of production, his 13 goals are good for third on the team. It’s his minus-14 rating that has me concerned. • When did the Predators get so good? And who in Nashville cares? • New daily routine: checking the Oilers website, the Sportsnet site and others to see when or if Smytty will sign the contract offered to him—several times an hour. • Parents of young DiezelBlaze: we named our daughter Pepper so we’ll find out what she thinks of that one. • Dwayne Roloson’s been a little kooky lately, throwing sticks and shit. Erratic behaviour and temper tantrums are symptoms of Oiler-fan-itis. Welcome to our world, Roli. • The Oilers have three short-handed goals this year. Pittsburgh’s Jordan Staal has five. Get well soon, Ethan Moreau. We need you. • Zack Stortini is fun to watch, isn’t he? Just by hitting, fighting and playing with passion. JF Jacques should try that—if he gets another chance. • Petr Nedved. Disappointment? Or exactly what I expected? • Jan 29, 1999. Andrei “The Tank” Kovalenko is traded to Philly for Alexandre Daigle, who was quickly flipped for Alexander Selivanov. I miss Kovalenko. So do VLT operators from what I heard. • Last year by Jan 29 the Oilers had 28 wins at game #52. This year: 24 wins at game #50. It’s not doomsday—yet. • Did Zack Stortini and Mathieu Roy find Mike Peca’s beard in the dressing room? V
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