Wednesday, December 4, 2013

I'd match Gagner's line against the other teams weakest defensive line and let him continue his offe


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It has been four years since the Oilers were in the playoff hunt in the middle of March. On March 15th, 2009 the Oilers had 73 points and were tied for 8th place with Nashville, but they went 6-8 in their final 14 games and missed the playoffs by six points. Here's a quick look at what happened four years ago.
6th place... Columbus with 78 points. 7th place... Minnesota with 74 points. 8th-9th place... Edmonton and Nashville with 73 points. 10th-11th place... usps rates 2013 Anaheim and St. Louis with 70 points.
6th place... St. Louis with 92 points. Went 10-2-2 from March 15th. 7th place... Columbus with 92 points. Went 5-4-4. 8th place... Anaheim with 91points. Went 10-3-1. usps rates 2013 9th place... Minnesota with 89 points. Went 7-5-1. 10th place...Nashville with 88 points. Went 6-4-3 11th place...Edmonton with 85 points. Went 6-8.
The Ducks and Blues went on a tear in the final 28 days, while the Predators, usps rates 2013 Wild and Oilers stumbled down the stretch and fell out of the playoffs. The Oilers need to mirror the Blues and Ducks and make a strong push down the stretch. They have to take advantage of this four-game homestand.
In five of their six wins the Oilers scored 5+ goals, but they only mustered 12 goals in their eight loses and lost six of the eight games by one goal. Their goaltending and defence wasn't bad, but they couldn't produce usps rates 2013 when it counted. usps rates 2013 This year, they have much more offensive skill throughout their lineup and starting tonight those players need to lead this team.
The Triple H line can attack on the rush with Hall and Hemsky while Horcoff won't get crushed defensively against usps rates 2013 lines like Datsyuk, Wilson, Thornton and Backes. These are the top centres coming in over the next 9 days, and look for Krueger to use the 4/10/83 line against them, especially out of TV timeouts.
Krueger usps rates 2013 did say he is more concerned about D pairing matchups than forwards, and he wants to focus on getting usps rates 2013 everyone involved early. He won't go crazy trying to match lines, but also said his strategy will vary from game to game.
I'd match Gagner's line against the other teams weakest defensive line and let him continue his offensive tear. Nugent-Hopkin's goal in Colorado looked eerily similar to many that he scored last  usps rates 2013 year; a quick release that beat the goalie just inside the post. If he gets some offensive confidence in these final 22 games, the Oilers could have three scoring lines.
QUICK usps rates 2013 HITS Many were getting on Nugent-Hopkins usps rates 2013 for not scoring, but the sophomore's goal scoring woes aren't as bad as Detroit's top-two gunners. Pavel Datsyuk hasn't scored a goal in 11 games, while Henrik usps rates 2013 Zetterberg only has 1 goal in his last 20 games.   The Red Wings have really struggled on the road at 3-6-2. usps rates 2013 They are 30th on the road in PP efficiency with a dreadful 2.6% and only one goal, which came in Calgary on Wednesday, usps rates 2013 in 36 attempts. Their road PK is also horrendous sitting 29th at 69.8%.   The Oilers haven't been great at home though usps rates 2013 going 4-4-2. They've given up 30 goals in 10 games. Their PP has been great, however, with 13 goals on 46 chances, while their PK is a solid 10th at home at 85.7%. The Oilers need to capitalize on special teams.   On March 7th in Detroit usps rates 2013 the Oilers didn't have one PP. They need to use their speed and put the Wings in bad positions and force them to take some penalties. The Oilers can't get sucked into playing a passive, defensive game against the Wings. If it becomes a game of patience, the Oilers will likely lose.   Ryan Jones was fighting the flu bug vs. Colorado and he "crashed" usps rates 2013 the last two days in Edmonton. Teemu Hartikainen will draw back in alongside 93 and 14.    Nikolai Khabibulin usps rates 2013 will backup Devan Dubnyk. Yann Danis went back to OKC after the Colorado game. LOOK AHEAD
GAME DAY PREDICTION: The Oilers have only won back-to-back games twice this year, but tonight they pick up their first three-game winning streak of the season with a 4-1victory. No team in the history of the NHL has made the playoffs without at least one three-game winning streak in a season, and they Oilers keep their playoff aspirations alive with a win tonight.
OBVIOUS GAME DAY PREDICTION: The crowd wil be tipsy , loaded, jazzed up for their first home game since February 23rd, and when the Oilers honour Stompin' Tom Connors and play The Hockey Song everyone in the crowd joins in and sings. The building will be rocking as fans take in a playoff race for the first time in four years. And Jordin Tootoo will want a rematch v. Mike Brown after Brown pumped him in Detroit last week.
NOT-SO-

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