Everything Else

Oilers Spotlight: Cam And Magic Talbot

By 1427

You could draw a lot of similarities between the search for a goalie and the search for a quarterback. One aspect that looks an awful lot alike is when a team splurges on what had been a backup to be their starter. You might see it here in town with the Lakeshore 11 and giving up the goods for Jimmy Garoppolo (god help us). In hockey, last year we saw Martin Jones, Cam Talbot, Thomas Greiss, Robin Lehner, and one or two others move from backup roles to starter roles, with varying success. This season Chad Johnson, Andrei Vasilevskiy, and one or two others have seized jobs. Heading into this offseason, Scott Darling could be given starter’s money and responsibilities, and one wonders if someone might not be coaxed to try with Antti Raanta after he walked the same gilded platform that Talbot did, following Henrik Lundqvist.

While Jones did get his team to a Final last year, there’s a serious argument that Talbot has been the biggest success of all of these.

Everything Else

Looks Different Now: Hawks 0 – Oilers 5

By 1503

Box Score

Natural Stat Trick

Hockey Stats

Well it wasn’t the Sam Gagner game. But it was probably the worst game the Hawks have suffered through in EdMo since then. That said, the Hawks put up 18 shots in the 2nd period and 28 in through 40, so to say they were completely dominated is just wide of the mark. However, the other team applied the formula the Hawks had been through most of the season. Convert on the power play, have your big stars punch through when they get an opportunity, have your goalie stand tall during a deluge. The Oilers did all that, thanks to McDavid, Klefbom, Draisaitl, and Cam and Magic Talbot. The Hawks didn’t do any of it. This is what you get.

Everything Else

I’m From Canada And They Think I’m Slow, Eh?

By 1760

I guess now we know who Gordie’s parents were, huh?

I don’t have the adjectives or the prose ability to be able to accurately describe what has transpired in the NHL this afternoon. But I’ll take a shot and when it’s over, to quote perhaps my favorite movie villain of all time, “Don’t think that I didn’t try.” But I think today’s trades are a perfect example of just how back’ards most of the league operates and what still matters to far too many teams (wrongly). Again, try and keep in mind that the last two Cups have been won by teams loaded with skill and speed, who beat teams built similarly. And the team that won the Cups when the ones that were loaded with skill and speed still had the puck all the time. This is important.

Ok, so let’s start with Taylor Hall for Adam Larsson. By the way, having simply written that four points fell off my IQ.

Everything Else

Formula 81 – Hawks 3 – Oilers 3 (Hawks win go-kart race)

By 1382

Box Score

Event Summary

War On Ice

Natural Stat Trick

Well you know this story by heart if you’ve followed the Hawks this season. The second line does most of the work to either get the Hawks one or two points, Corey Crawford holds them in when they were seriously under pressure, the penalty kill gets all the kills required, and then the Hawks goof a goal in overtime to get both points (and 3-on-3 every goal is basically a goof, that’s not a knock). The variable this time was getting one miraculous save from Crawford in OT, and the Hawks got an even-strength goal from the third line, which isn’t the first of the year but man does it feel like it.

Still, while gaining the two points when you don’t play well is a positive sign for a team we’re all sure is going to figure out its problems at some point, being severely clocked at times by the Oilers without McJesus is not going to have people printing up t-shirts.

Let’s do it.

Everything Else

A Return To Some Kind Of Form: Oilers 2 – Hawks 4

By 1312

Box Score

Event Summary

War On Ice

Natural Stat Trick

After something of a wonky week, the Hawks returned to the model that had racked up wins in the season’s first couple weeks, or more to the point before Hossa got hurt. The second line goes nuts, Crawford is excellent, no one else does much of anything of note either good or bad (or at least not bad enough to fuck up the two points), and the Hawks win. The 2nd line accounted for all four goals, Crow makes 22 saves in the 2nd period alone, and against an EdMo team without McJesus it’s just enough. It’s not the sort of win that is going to calm any slightly jangly nerves about this team’s prospects, but after getting pretty much tonked for the last five periods before this, it’ll do.

Everything Else

It Still Points, Doesn't It? Oilers 1 – Hawks 1 (Hawks win bake off)

By 1162 0

Box Score

Event Summary

War On Ice

Natural Stat Trick

If I were going to try and excuse this effort, the one where the Hawks gave up 47 shots to the dead ass Oilers, I would say something like the following: It was clear there was an extra jump with the Hawks on Monday, juiced by a couple days off that were filled with two new acquisitions that were supposed to refocus the whole organization. So there was always going to be a come down from that, especially when the 29th placed Oilers came for a visit and the feeling, as it always is with them though it almost never works out that way, that the Hawks can just show up and win.

I’m not saying that was the case, but you could make this argument and it’s not total horse hockey.

Everything Else

It Still Points, Doesn’t It? Oilers 1 – Hawks 1 (Hawks win bake off)

By 1040 0

Box Score

Event Summary

War On Ice

Natural Stat Trick

If I were going to try and excuse this effort, the one where the Hawks gave up 47 shots to the dead ass Oilers, I would say something like the following: It was clear there was an extra jump with the Hawks on Monday, juiced by a couple days off that were filled with two new acquisitions that were supposed to refocus the whole organization. So there was always going to be a come down from that, especially when the 29th placed Oilers came for a visit and the feeling, as it always is with them though it almost never works out that way, that the Hawks can just show up and win.

I’m not saying that was the case, but you could make this argument and it’s not total horse hockey.

Everything Else

You Can Call Me Alberta: Hawks at Oilers Preview/Pregame Thread/Knitting Circle

By 1361 0

Hawk Wrestler vs. oil plainview

FACEOFF: 8:30pm Central

TV/RADIO: CSN, WGN Radio

DRAINAGE!!!!: The Copper N’ Blue, and some others maybe that haven’t actually been hired by the Oilers

WHERE YOU SHOULD WATCH IF IN TOWN: A.J. Hudson’s (3801 N. Ashland)

The Hawks will continue what is now their last place tour of the West, yes Virginia the Wild have slipped behind the Avs, and see the last place team in the other division which would be the kabuki theater for and by monkeys that is the Edmonton Oilers. And while I know these guys fly on charter jets and stay in five-star hotels and all that, a back-to-back in St. Paul and then Edmonton seems a bit over the top. So I wouldn’t be shocked if the Hawks’ legs just aren’t there tonight. Hell, they haven’t always been there when they’ve had optimum rest. But thankfully, you don’t have to be all there when playing the Oil.

It's so easy
Everything Else

Easy Peasey Japanesey: Hawks 5 – Oilers 1

By Sam Fels 1117 0

We still fear games against the Oilers after the trauma of the ’11-’12 season, especially the carnival ride of the games at Rexall Place that season, but it hasn’t really been the case the past two season. Oh sure, the Oil got one last year at the UC in a total clown college of a game. But other than that they’ve been batting practice fastballs for the Hawks. And you know pretty much whether it will be or not by the 1st period. As soon as Jonathan Toews arrogantly deposited his shorty in the 1st, you knew how tonight would go.

Let’s not wait around.