Can’t believe we’re already in month two of 2013. Time just flies. Can you also believe that we’re already in the third week and 9th game of the Oilers’ 2013 season? Eight games in and the Oilers are just one point back of the Northwest Division’s leading team, the Vancouver Canucks.
And who might the Oilers
be playing tonight? The Canucks, of course.
A win tonight and the
arguably “streaky” Oilers could take over the top spot in the division and third
place in the Western Conference with 11 points. That could prove to be a feat.
Coming off a loss in Colorado
and coming up against Roberto Luongo, a hot goalie who was named one of the NHL’s
three stars of the week last week, tonight’s match will be a tough one to win.
Ryan Whitney is a healthy
scratch tonight, for the first time in his career. This doesn’t appear to be
shocking to anyone other than Whitney himself. He hasn’t played up to his
calibre all season. Maybe this will be a wake-up call. Instead, Corey Potter
will be slotted in with Mark Fistric for tonight. Fistric and Potter should
make an interesting pairing. Both are big players able to throw their size
around the ice.
Shawn Horcoff is also
back in the line-up after being out a couple of games with a neck strain.
We’ve already come to
the part of the season where coaches are having to alter lines to address
player injuries and cold streaks. Had the Oilers shown a ton of success with
Horcoff out of the lineup, Kruger would have had a tough time figuring where,
when and how to slot the Captain back in. Should the Oilers prove to have a ton
of success with Whitney out and Potter and Fistric on the same line, Kruger is
really going to have to juggle some things to fit Whitney back in.
Tonight should be a
decent game with a couple of big bodies on both sides of the ice and some good
ol’ talented stick hands as well.
I won’t be able to watch
it, but I’m sure the highlights will be great. Enjoy, for those who can!
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As
I play around with what I want to include in this blog, I'd love to hear some
feedback. Anything you want to hear about? Any issues in the NHL (Oilers
related or not) you want to read about? Anything you really like? Really hate?
Really think is missing? Let me know. Leave a comment!
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