Author Archive for RyanB
I'm a life long fan of hockey, especially the Oilers. The primary purpose of my day job is to get money to support my addiction to the Oil. Between season seats, beer, and merchandise I shudder to think about how much money I feed into the Oiler coffers every year. My addiction to the Oil knows no bounds, when I got married in Mexico the whole trip had to be shifted after everything was booked so that I'd be back for the Mark Messier jersey retirement. My wife is very understanding and I'm in a good place with my addiction right now so I see no reason to change anything. I can be reached at rwbatty@gmail.com or you can follow my random thoughts at http://twitter.com/ryan_batty.
Game 51 review – Not even close
Last night Chicago doubled up on the Oilers 4-2 and as a result now have double the points of the Oilers in the standings too. The game was in no way as close as the final score would indicate. The description used over at The Copper & Blue of men versus boys is about as an accurate a description as any I can think of.
Game 51 preview – Tonights forecast calls for more losing
No matter how bad a team is sooner or later they’re going to win a game. Maybe they’ll get a lucky bounce, or maybe the refs will make a debatable call that leads to a powerplay, or maybe the game will be stolen by a hot goaltender. Even though any of those things could happen there is really no way that the Oilers win tonight against the Hawks.
Things to keep in mind about picking 1st
Well the Oilers have finally made it all the way to the basement of the NHL. With a 5-1 win on Sunday over the Bruins, the Hurricanes blew past the Oilers and into 29th place overall. It’s been tough work for the Oilers to make it to the cellar – they needed to put up a 1-15-2 record over the past 45 days – but the team kept at it and was eventually rewarded. Don’t ever say that hard work doesn’t pay off.
Game 50 review – Heartbreak against Big D
Just like Wednesday night Oiler fans at Rexall Place last night thought that the home team might just pull out a win and end their losing streak, but it just wasn’t meant to be and the streak continues – the Oilers have now lost 10 straight games.
Game 50 preview – Are the Stars aligned for a win?
When the NHL introduced the shootout after the lockout it marked the beginning of a new era in the NHL, an era where there would always be a winner. That means that either the Oilers or Stars will put the brakes on their losing streak tonight. For the other, the futility will continue.
Game 49 review – The Sedins kill the Oilers, again
If the Oilers could have just killed a penalty last night they probably would have won the game. They played a solid game but the Canucks converted three times on four powerplays to win the game 3-2. The Oilers can at least take some solace in the fact that they were able to register a point.
Game 49 preview – Looking for loss #9
Coming of their worst loss of the season on Monday night – a 6-0 loss to the Avalanche – the Oilers will return to the friendly confines of Rexall Place tonight when the host the Canucks. Having managed just a single win (to go along with a couple of overtime losses) in their last 12 games maybe Rexall Place isn’t so friendly after all. In fact I expect the fans tonight to be anything but friendly.
Game 48 preview – Can the Oilers win in Colorado?
Oh how time flies when you’re having fun. Just a little over a month ago the Oilers were coming off one of the best road trips in franchise history; the team put together a five game winning streak on that road trip. In the 15 games since that streak though the Oilers have just a single win, a win that is book ended by seven losses.
Game 46 review – Oil can’t hold off Pens
The Oilers dropped their sixth straight game last night, a 3-2 decision to the Penguins. It was a game that the Oilers could have won, they had a two goal lead going into the third period, but they just couldn’t hold off the Penguins. The played a good game and still managed to lose. In the drive for a high draft pick last nights outcome was the best case scenario.
Game 46 preview – Penguins make rare visit to Edmonton
At this point things in Edmonton are about as ugly as they can get. The season is done, the team has three points in their last 13 games, Khabibulin needs back surgery, Hemsky is lost for the year, and by the end of the night it’s very possible that the Oilers will be tied for last place. So it’s a good thing that the Penguins are coming to town tonight, at least this way there is something for Oiler fans something to be excited about.
Khabibulin’s surgery leads to a lot of questions
It had been speculated for weeks and now its official, Khabibulin needs season ending back surgery. With the Oilers in wait-till-next-season mode (for the fourth year in a row) the loss of their number one goalie isn’t something that will jeopardize the season. It does though open the door for a lot of questions about Khabibulin’s contract and the Oilers goaltending situation.
Game 45 review – Another lousy effort, another loss
It was the same the same old story for Oiler fans last night at Rexall Place. The Oilers play, the Oilers lose. Last nights decision – a 5-3 loss to the Predators – marked the tenth loss in the Oilers last 11 games on home ice. With a record like that it’s only a matter of time until the Oilers manage to sit in the basement of the NHL.
Game 45 preview – Will the mini-camp pay off?
With a whopping three points in their last 12 games the Oilers took advantage of their recent four day break to hold a mini-camp so the team could work on the little things that have been costing them wins of late. If you’re wondering what those things would be, the answer is everything.
Game 44 review – Oilers lose Toilet Bowl
In a battle of two teams at the bottom of the Western Conference the Oilers showed why they are the worst team in the West. The game was a snoozer from the get go. There was no energy and all the fans could do was hope it would end soon, it didn’t. At one point I pulled out my ticket to see hope many home games we had left – to my horror the answer is 18.
Game 44 preview – I guess somebody has to win
With just two points separating them in the standings tonight’s matchup between the Oilers and Blue Jackets is a huge four point game. Well it would really only be huge if you were looking at the bottom of the NHL standings and not the top. In fact this game is really a battle for 29th place, with the loser grabbing that coveted spot. The winner will rocket past the Leafs and into 27th place.
Game 43 review – At least it’s a point
The loser point might not be what the Oilers wanted when they worked so hard to tie it up but when a team has just two points in their last ten games I’d be willing to bet that they’ll take points wherever they can find them.
Game 43 preview – Injury news, good and bad as always
At the start of the season you had told me that tonights Oilers/Coyotes game would feature the 6th and 29th place teams in the league I would have laughed in your face because there is no way the Oilers would be sitting with the NHLs elite teams this late in the season. As it turns out I would have been right, the Oilers wouldn’t be in that position but somehow the Coyotes are.
Looking to improve the World Juniors
Watching teams get destroyed by 10 plus goals isn’t fun. Not for the fans and not for the payers on either side. As long as the talent gap is as wide as it is between the elite teams and the next level there will always be lopsided losses but there are a couple of things the IIHF could look at to make those games just a little closer and maybe a little more entertaining.
Game 40 preview – When lousy teams play does anyone care?
When a game is on pay per view and the teams are the second (the Oilers) and third (the Leafs) worst teams in the league will anyone actually care enough to pay for the game? If I didn’t already have tickets I know I wouldn’t.
Looking at Penner for Team Canada
Tomorrow morning Steve Yzerman will unveil the roster for the Canadian Men’s Olypic Hockey Team. One of the players that will almost certainly be left of that list will be Dustin Penner. But Penner is having a hell of a year on a pretty bad Oilers team and his numbers look pretty good when compared to the 25 forwards that were invited to the Olympic orientation.
Game 39 review – Seven and counting, the streak continues
With a 4-1 loss last night to the Flames the Oilers have now extend their losing streak to seven games. Will the streak end against the Leafs on Wednesday? The Flames on Thursday? Or will it continue into 2010? Based on the game the Oilers played last night it is really hard to predict when this team will win again.
Game 39 preview – Not quite the Battle of days past
Although it isn’t what it once was the Battle of Alberta does still mean something to me. In three games between the two clubs this season the Oilers are 0-3. And as much as I hope that the Oilers are bad enough to get a very high draft pick in June I still want them to win tonight simply because I don’t ever want the Flames (or really the City of Calgary) to ever win anything.
Game 35 preview – Thanks for the garbage schedule Gary
There are games that I circle every year when the Oilers schedule comes out, the games I wouldn’t miss for anything. Games against the Flames and Canucks fall into that category, as do Original Six teams. Seeing an Oilers in his first game back here is always fun. The Stanley Cup champion is another good game to go see. And of course when the leagues best player comes to town you want to make sure your there.
Game 33 preview – What a difference a week makes
What the hell happen to the Oilers? After their game on December 5 I went on vacation and all but cut myself off from the world. I didn’t go very far for my vacation, only 4.7 km as the crow flies, but when you’re watching curling all day and drinking beers before, during, and after there isn’t much time left for anything else.
Game 29 review – It’s a miracle
I really don’t know which one is more surprising – the Oilers battling back for a win on the road in Dallas or Smid scoring a goal. You know what I don’t care, I just happy that both happened.
Game 29 preview – Looking for a rare win in Big D
Based on history a win today in Dallas won’t be easy for the Oilers. Since The North Stars packed their bags for the Lone Star State the Oilers have not looked forward to road trips that stop there at all. The Oilers have a 4-22-2-2 record all time in Dallas, that’s a 0.200 winning percentage. On home ice the Oil have fared slightly better but overall the Stars have had the Oilers number for quite a while.
Game 28 preview – Trying to kick the Wings when their down
The Oilers resume their six game road trip tonight in Detroit. Technically this is game two of the road trip but since they’ve had four days off and returned to Edmonton after the 7-3 loss to the Canucks on Saturday night this is really more like a new road trip altogether. But what game on the trip this is doesn’t really matter, what matters is that the Oil suck on the road.
Are the Oilers just good enough to not suck enough?
It’s been a week since I posted anything here one Hockey Independent. Was I battling swine flu because the Flames got a vaccine meant for me? No. Was I staying out of the public eye after crashing my Escalade into a fire hydrant? No. Was I distraught because the Roughriders can’t count to 12? No.
Game 26 preview – Heatley, Hemsky, and hopelessness
There are two major storylines for the Oilers/Sharks game tonight. There is the fans in Edmonton getting their chance to boo Heatley (which I don’t agree with) storyline and there is the Oilers beginning life without Hemsky (which depresses me immensely) storyline.
Thoughts on booing Heatley
It’s going to be a loud night tonight at Rexall Place. For the most the noise won’t be the fans cheering for the home team as much as it will be the fans booing Dany Heatley each and every time he steps onto the ice.
Game 25 review – From bad to worse?
Things here in Oil Country haven’t been all sunshine and roses lately. The team is losing more often than they’re winning and most night the team seems to lack the intensity or focus to win games. It’s been bad so far and it easily could be getting worse very very soon.
Game 25 preview – Oilers receive a royal visit
It’s back to business for the Oilers tonight as they host the Los Angeles Kings. This will be the first meeting of the season for these two teams but of last season the Kings have really gave the Oilers real problems. In the four games between the two clubs last season the Oilers won just one, thanks to the loser point though they did manage to get a single point in one of the other three.
Game 24 review – Not necessarily pretty but I’ll take it
The final score last night was 4-0 but the score doesn’t really reflect how the Oilers played against the Coyotes. Overall the team played alright but by no means was they spectacular.
Game 24 preview – It’s time to start winning
This week could very well define the Oilers season. As a fan it hurts to think that on the 23rd of November but it likely is reality.
Game 22 preview – Looking to stop the slide
Back at the friendly confines of Rexall Place the Oilers will look to get back on the winning track tonight against the Avalanche. With just two wins in their last 12 games the winning track is something they need to find very soon.
Game 21 review – Close but no cigar for the Oil in Columbus
Last night was a good news/bad news kind of night for the Oilers. The good news was that as a team they looked good and did manage to come away with a point. The bad news of course is that they couldn’t hold a third period lead that would have gotten them two points.
Game 21 preview – In search of an elusive road win
The Oilers wrap up their five game road trip tonight in Columbus. After getting out of the gate on this trip with a win in Colorado and a loser point in Ottawa the Oilers have dropped back to back games to the Sabres and Thrashers. After the Colorado game I wrote that a successful road trip is a 0.500 road trip. Well by that metric whether or not this trip is successful hangs in the balance tonight.
The Oilers At The Quarter Point
It seems like only yesterday that the Oilers were getting ready to faceoff against the Flames in their first game of the year and here we are now 20 games deep into the 2009/10 NHL season. With the season a quarter over I thought we should take a quick look back at the season so far and hand out some quarter season accolades.
Game 20 preview – Oilers make rare trip to Atlanta
So how long have the Thrashers been in the NHL now? Since I wasn’t entirely sure I looked it up – the answer is 10 seasons. This is their tenth year and today the Oilers will play in Atlanta for just the fifth time. I’ll forgive the Thrasher faithful if they don’t recognize the Oilers.
Will this be Arsene’s chance?
Arsene’s career began in 2001 in the ECHL. He’s played for Charlotte and Reading in the ECHL and Hartford and Hersey in the AHL. In total Arsene has played 441 games in his pro career but he hasn’t yet played a single game in the NHL. Tomorrow he might finally get his chance.
Hopefully Katz Gets A Discount On Band-Aids
Every team suffers through injuries at some point in the season. It’s part of the game and there really isn’t anything that anyone can do about it. But there are injuries and then is there is the stupid amount of injuries that the Oilers are dealing with right now; as of this morning they have 11 players listed as injured.
Game 19 review – Powerplay lets the Oilers down
Despite the fact that the Oilers looked terrible in the first period and that they were outplayed at five-on-five all night long, there they were with a chance to even the score in the last five minutes of the game.
Game 19 preview – Just keep doing what you’re doing
Tonight in Buffalo the Oilers play their third game of a five game road trip. The key to success is to just keep doing what they’ve been doing – simple offense and lots of shots at one end of the rink and limited second chances and good clean breakouts at the other end of the ice. It’s obviously a lot easier said than done.
Game 18 review – A night of goals that were barely goals
For a change the Oilers outshot and outchanced their opponent last night. Too bad for them the result wasn’t a win but a 4-3 shootout loss to the Senators.
Game 18 preview – Edmonton Falcons visit Ottawa
The good news for the Oilers today is that the Heatley trade didn’t happen. The bad news is that their already depleted lineup looks more and more like the Falcons lineup by the minute. Tonight you can add O’Marra to the mix, he’ll join Falcon teammates Reddox and Potulny in the Oilers lineup tonight.
MacIntyre to Florida and the Myth of the Enforcer
Obviously there is a market for players like MacIntyre who have a limited skill set and really aren’t ever going to contribute in anyway that doesn’t use their firsts. Others in MacIntyre’s class are guys like Parros and Boogaard. Teams obviously want these guys but I don’t get it. As far as I’m concerned it’s a myth that they bring anything to your team.
Game 17 Review – That’s How You Start A Road Trip
I look at most road trips in a very simple way – if you come out with .500 record then the trip was pretty damn good. So with that in mind it’s always nice to start a road trip out with a win. When you pick up that opening game win, there is just a little less pressure on the team going into the next games on the trip. Now it may or may not in fact be true that early wins on a road trip help the team on the rest of the trip, but I can guarantee that last nights 5-3 win over the Avalanche did help boost the confidence of the Oilers.
Game 17 preview – Shorthanded Oilers visit Colorado
First it was Souray who was knocked out of the lineup with a concussion. Then Horcoff went down with a shoulder injury. And now Hemsky is sidelined, also with a shoulder injury. Those are big holes in any lineup, when the team has dropped six of their last seven they’re huge holes in your lineup.
Game 16 preview – Living without Horcoff
Shawn Horcoff will be out of the Oilers lineup for the next 7-10 days with a shoulder injury that he suffered on Monday night against the Islanders. Horcoff hasn’t pissed a drop this season offensively but his presence will be missed although certainly not on the score sheet. Even when he brings nothing in the offensive zone he is solid defensively, he wins faceoffs, and he sees a lot of ice time on the penalty kill. Those are hard things to replace.
Are the Rangers more important than Edmonton and Calgary?
There are a great many things that puzzle me about the NHL schedule. So far this season the Flyers had a stretch were they had one game sandwiched by five days off on either side. The Flames have played just five times in the last 21 days. But those might not be the strangest quirks in this years NHL schedule.
