Oilers Gameday – vs Anaheim

In just a few hours, 2015 will be a distant memory and we will all wake up in a brand new year, where the Oilers are competitive and pushing for a playoff spot.

Before that happens, though, the Oilers play the Anaheim (not-Mighty) Ducks tonight. It’ll probably be one last dance around the tire fire, but we should wait until after the game to decide.

 

Last Games

Edmonton

The Oilers played LA on Tuesday, and it did not go well. The first period was pretty solid, and the third was definitely above-average, but the second period was an abomination to hockey. The Oilers gave up 3 goals in about 90 seconds, and that was the game right there. It’s too bad, too, because the first period was a very solid effort and left little bit of hope in the hearts of Oilers fans. Of course, when the Kings went up 3-0, all hope was lost and the game finished 5-2 LA.

Anaheim

The Ducks played in Calgary the other night, and beat the Flames 1-0. The Ducks (who were my preseason Western Conference Champion pick) have been not very good this season, and are missing some major firepower from their stars.

The takeaway from Anaheim’s last game is this: Edmonton lost to Calgary 5-3. Anaheim beat Calgary 1-0, so it stands to reason that Anaheim should win tonight by a margin of eleventy billion-to-one.

 

Keys to the Game

Edmonton

Put some pucks on the net and crash the net, and get some traffic out in front, and be a little mean AND GET A POWER PLAY GOAL JUST ONE MORE TIME THIS YEAR PLEASE FOR THE LOVE OF EVERYTHING HOLY.

Anaheim

Play the same way that they played against Calgary, I guess. They’re definitely a better team than their record would suggest, and I feel like their breakout is coming soon. (It’ll be tonight. Guaranteed.)

 

Players to Watch

Edmonton

Benoit Pouliot. He’s got 3 goals in his last 2 games and has been one of the bright spots in an otherwise dismal last half of December. Mark Letestu seems to be able to put the puck in the net when it matters, so maybe take a gander at him.

And watch Taylor Hall and send good vibes his way. He needs a goal or seven real quick here, and it’d sure be nice if that started tonight.

Anaheim

Look for Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry to have big nights tonight against the Oilers, because that’s what happens. Slumpbusters for life.

And Shawn Horcoff will have a big night, I bet, because he’s playing against the Oilers.

Lineups

Edmonton

Taylor Hall – Leon Draisaitl – Teddy Purcell

Benoit Pouliot – Ryan Nugent-Hopkins – Jordan Eberle

Matt Hendricks – Mark Letestu – Lauri Korpikoski

Luke Gazdic – Anton Lander – Jujhar Khaira

Darnell Nurse – Justin Schultz

Andrej Sekera – Mark Fayne

Brad Hunt – Brandon Davidson

Cam Talbot

Anaheim

Rickard Rakell – Ryan Getzlaf – Corey Perry

Carl Hagelin – Ryan Kesler – Jakob Silfverberg

Jiri Sekac – Shawn Horcoff – Mike Santorelli

Patrick Maroon – Nate Thompson – Andrew Cogliano

Hampus Lindholm – Kevin Bieksa

Clayton Stoner – Sami Vatanen

Shea Theodore – Josh Manson

John Gibson

 

Final Thoughts

It’s been another year of not seeing much success, and it’s hard to keep cheering for a team that doesn’t give us much to cheer for.

But here’s the thing: at the end of the day, it’s just a game. It’s a bunch of men playing a child’s game and getting paid scads of money to do so. It’s a business, and we are the consumers, and our team somehow makes money in spite of the on-ice product we get to see.

So tonight, instead of grousing about how bad the PP is, or how mad Justin Schultz makes you, or how much you want someone ANYONE to score a goal, keep your loved ones close and remind yourselves that there’s more to life than hockey. There’s more to life than worrying about the Oilers’ playoff chances (slim-to-none, realistically).

Being a fan should be fun, and if it’s not, you’re probably taking things a bit too seriously.

Happy New Year, everyone.

 

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