Feb. 06, 2007 - Issue #590: Is Emo Dead?
In The Box
Holding out for a hero
If you pretended that Vancouver didn’t exist and ignored the standings, last week was OK for the Oilers. The team travelled to Vancouver last Thursday and lost 5-3. Then (bright spot for the week coming) the team beat Colorado 3-2 in a rare afternoon win on Saturday. But the Oilers returned home to lose 5-2 to Vancouver. At night and against Vancouver, last week stunk. But for one afternoon last week without the Canucks involved, a win was earned. Any other good news? Edmonton only has one more game left against Vancouver.
Us vs Them While the “Battle of Alberta”
seems to be re-igniting lately, the more significant rivalry seems to be
Edmonton vs Vancouver. This season, the Canuckleheads have beaten the Oilers
five times of seven. Last season, the Oilers beat Vancouver in six of eight
games. Edmonton also squeaked into the playoffs by just edging the Canucks
out last season. In the 2003-04 season, a late-season loss to Vancouver was
the game that ensured that the Oilers would miss the playoffs. In fact, when
playoffs start, it is either us or them in the show. Since the 1983-84
season, both teams made the playoffs in the same year only five times and
only once (in 2000-01) since 1991-92. DY
More fun with numbers Okay then, here’s the latest
update on the Oilers’ statistical chances of making the playoffs. You
may want to sit down. At their present rate, the Minnesota Wild will finish
eighth with 92 points. For the Oilers to get to 93 points, they will have to
earn 37 points in their last 28 games. That’s the equivalent of winning
slightly more than two out of every three games. Certainly not impossible for
a team making a valid playoff push, as any kind of winning streak would
change things drastically. But with the lack of consistency shown by the Oil
lately, it may be too much to ask. TB
In defence of ... Joffrey Lupul Lupul is one of several “whipping boys
du jour” as the Oilers continue evading a playoff spot. Criticisms of
Lupul include his lack of production and soft play. But he is third on the
team in goals with 13 and fourth in shots on net. He has also been blasted
for weak play along the boards and in the corners. In Lupes’s defence,
he has looked bad in those situations because he actually tries to win the
puck along the boards and actually heads into the corner. He’s trying
to find new ways to contribute and seems to be improving. He’s refused
to stay in his comfort zone and stick to a safer game. He wants to improve.
And that’s the only way he will. DY
Just like the Oiler powerplay—no offence I noticed
Colorado goalie Peter Budaj had one of the more interesting decorations on
the back of his goalie helmet during the Oilers/Avs game. Budaj has a picture
of a shirtless and buff Ned Flanders holding the Slovakian flag. It seems
that one of the Avs trainers said the goaltender reminded him of the
Simpsons’ bible-thumping character. For a devout Christian (a group not
often found poking fun at themselves) Slovak (I don’t know any sweeping
generalizations about Slovaks) goaltender (crazy loners) in the NHL (aside
from Brendan Shanahan, not usually the funniest guys in the room) I think
that’s hilarious. Kudos to Budaj. And boo to me for relying on
stereotypes. DY
In defence of ... Marc-Andre Bergeron Bergeron is working
hard. He still makes awful giveaways and probably always will. But he has a
great shot, some speed and, despite what you read on the interweb blogs and
hear on the radio, is not the reason the Oilers are doing poorly right now.
He is also a better player than anything the Oilers could get in return if
they tried to trade him. DY
City of, ummm ... If the Oilers fail to secure a post-season berth, this would be the first year that the Oilers and the Eskimos both failed to make the playoffs since ... ever. Ouch-a. TB
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