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.

So I will of course be sitting in Section 336 tonight when the leagues best player Alex Ovechkin (Crosby and Malkin are great but it isn’t even close as far as I’m concerned) and the rest of the Capitals take on the Oilers. That it also happens to be on a Saturday night makes the game just that much sweeter.

Here’s what bugs me though. Ovechkin has been in the league for five years and this is just the second time he’s ever played in Edmonton. The same goes for Crosby, his second appearance here won’t be until January. Can anyone explain to me how a league doesn’t ensure a schedule that sees their best players play in every city every year? From a marketing standpoint it seems like a no brainer but I guess I’m just not smart enough to work for the NHL.

I won’t lie, tonight I’m not going to watch the Oilers but instead to see Ovechkin live. The last time he was here I just couldn’t get around the first step he takes when he gets the puck. The way he is able to make those first couple of steps count and of course his release when he shoots the puck, well I found it amazing. I wish I could see it just a little more often than once every couple of years.

The Oilers face a tough task tonight as they look to bounce back from a couple of losses to start this four game home stand. The first game against the Kings they probably should have won; the second game against the Preds they’re lucky they didn’t get embarrassed. If tonight’s performance looks anything like the last 55 minutes on Thursday the Caps should score nine goals tonight. I’d hate to see the home side get lit up like that but the offense that the Caps have combined with some odd defensive zone plays from the Oilers should create a very interesting combination. I hope Deslauriers is ready to see a lot of rubber tonight.

Regardless of the outcome tonight I’m going to enjoy tonight and not just because of Ovechkin because you see tonight is also the last time this season the Oielrs will host a game on Hockey Night in Canada. It’s December 19 and the Oilers will have another 47 games to play but none of those will be on home ice on a Saturday night. Yet another scheduling marvel, thanks a ton Gary.