Shut-out again ................ and MacT is some pissed.

MAILING IT IN

It wasn't just that they lost - nobody expected anything different when the worst team in the NHL dragged its carcass into the Xcel Energy Centre last night - but it's how they stumbled to their 17th defeat in the last 18 games that really burns.

(Actually, the Flyers are the worst team in the NHL, but for the purpose of this story, the Oilers are the worst losers right now; that is my assumption anyways.)

They got shut out. Again. For a franchise record ninth time this season.

The Oilers said before the trip that they didn't want to mail it in the rest of the way, but there were a lot of players with stamps all over their sweaters.

In his most stinging criticism yet, MacTavish said a lot of the big-name forwards who were supposed to be leading the team this year have long ago pulled the chute.

"(Joffrey)Lupul and (Raffi)Torres, those are huge, huge absences for us," he said.

MacTavish added that injuries and inexperience on the blueline are no excuse for a hockey team being held to one or zero goals in 13 of the last 18 games.

"I said this to the players," said MacTavish.

"Don't be looking at the young guys as the scapegoat for tonight's game.

"They did fine.

"When your veterans don't provide anything, literally, in the hockey game, and your young guys are holding their own, that's an indictment on them, not an indictment of the situation.

"We need something out of our veterans, we didn't get it out of them in Chicago, we didn't get it out of them again tonight.

"There's some guys who haven't played any good in ..... all year."

Torres has three goals in his last 24 games, Lupul has three in his last 33.

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I have a love-hate relationship with MacT, and a love-hate relationship with his comments and quotes. Sometimes I feel he is wrong to criticize the boys, other times I wish he would criticize them more. The comments above about last night's game are bang on.

As much as I love one Raffi Torres, he hasn't done much to help himself this season with his contract up in July. Granted, he is a RFA and not a UFA, butttttttttttt I just have this feeling that he will traded (probably in a package deal) in the off season. Best of luck to you Raffi, I will miss you (as will the other half of Storres.)

Stoll will get over losing Raf though; he could always find a new buddy in one Mr. Joffery Lupul.

If my beloved Raf isn't traded, GREAT!, but I'm preparing myself for a trade nonetheless.

I don't need to go thru another denial stage like when Doug Weight was traded.

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Roloson has been named to the roster of Team Canada for the upcoming IIHF World Hockey Championships, managed by the greatest Red Wing of all time, Steve Yzerman; along with defenceman Eric Brewer of the St. Louis Blues and forwards Rick Nash of the Columbus Blue Jackets, Shane Doan of the Phoenix Coyotes and Los Angeles Kings’ Mike Cammalleri.

Good for Roli. I hope some of the other Oilers are invited to go play for their respective countries as well.

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THIS JUST IN FROM THE OILERS WEBSITE:

ROB SCHREMP HAS BEEN RECALLED.

I don't see how this can possibly help the Oilers at this point in the season, but good for Rob; the plunger faced, drunken thumbs-up, speedo wearing, man-whore that he is. :D

HO HUM. Another game, another loss.

Oh boys. *insert heavy sad sigh here*.
For all of 24 seconds last night, it looked like we might have been able to pull out a win.
Twas not in the cards though.
Toby Petersen actually scored again (WUT. Petersen scored!??!? Are you shittin me?!?!?!)
I couldn't believe my own eyes .............
But in typical Toby fashion, he's left on the ice after scoring and fucks it up. The short-lived moment of joy of actually have a lead died when Arnott tied the game up 24 seconds after Toby put us ahead.
Gawd Toby; give me some hope and then royally piss me off (again) all in the space one shift. He also happened to be on the ice when Dumont scored the GWG.
Don't think you are ever coming off my shit list now.

Any coincidence that with the return of Hemsky, (Friday against the Avs, last night against the Preds) Sykora has scored in both of those games? Maybe it's just me, cuz Sykora's goal was scored when Hemsky was on the bench. Still, you can't dispute the fact that Sykora plays better when his Czech-mate Hemsky is in the line-up.

What's even more sad than the Oilers losing once again, is the fact that last night's game was probably the last Oilers game I personally will be able to watch until next season, mostly due to my work schedule. What a way to go out; losing the last home game 4-0 and still losing.

Thursday's game is on PPV, and unless you bought the whole package at the beginning of the season, there isn't much point in paying $11.95 to watch the Oilers blow another one out their asses.
Is there even any point in hoping that the boys can win at least one more game before this awful season comes to an end? I support my boys all the way, but having false hope before every game day only to have is dashed is starting to wear thin.

Even our joining of the Avs bandwagon isn't working out so well; Flames won last night, Avs lost; the point gap is now 7 with 6 games to go for each of those teams.

I did happen to laugh one time during the game last night. Oh Greener. I doubt he could have said any more cliches in that one. The look on his face and the way he just left was funny and confusing.
A+ for that one, Matty!

Life is full of dissapointment.

Oilers 0, Predators 4.

I hate shut-outs against at home; we didn't even get to cheer for a goal. Gator had some sweet hits though, and Brian Young had the hit of the night when he flatten Hordichuk as he cut across the blueline with his head down. Our "secret weapon" didn't work on this night. Better luck next game boys.

Now a 6 game road trip to finish up the season, starting Tuesday in Nashville.

At least 80% of the guys came to sign autographs after the game, even Torres and Hemsky, who are notorious for walking on by.
The guys that did walk on by were Winchester (he was limping), Gilbert (he was with Winchester), Pisani, Petersen, (both had their babies with them), Markkanen, Jacques, Sykora, and Smith (he parks on the other side though, so he doesn't have to come by the stairs/fence where us auto seekers hang out). We didn't see Roli or Stortini come out. Sneaky guys.

Oh Sykora, we still love you even though you snubbed us, and despite the fact that you got rid of your dark emo haircut.

Oh well. I did get Sykora's auto at the WEM session early in the month, so it's all good. I'm not that big on getting too many autos anyways, ( I only managed to get 4 players tonight, but there was a lot more ppl there than the past 3 games we were trying for autos at) ; it was nice to see (most) of the boys appease the fans on the last home game of the season.
Laddy Smid is by far the most accommodating. I hope he stays that way when he gets more popular. Which he surely will.

Sad day. AGAIN. *sigh*

Oilers 1, Kings 5.

Well, coming into this game, the Oilers already depleted with injuries and the flu (ever heard of a flu shot?! MAN!) were on a 7 game losing streak, the Kings losers themselves of 5 straight. Something had to give right? Give the Oilers did; ending Los Angeles streak and furthering their own. The loss to San Jose was so sad it was funny; tonight's loss was just sad; very, very sad.
Let the crying games begin ..............





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Raffi in a rut!

His contract is up and his bargaining power is dropping daily

By JONATHAN HUNTINGTON, Sun Media

SAN JOSE -- Stuck in the worst rut of his professional career, Raffi Torres isn't making excuses.

"I'm not really doing anything out there," said the frustrated Edmonton Oilers' forward before last night's tilt against the San Jose Sharks.

"It's just kind of like killing time out there - that is what it looks like."

With only one goal in his last 12 games entering last night, Torres is nowhere near the form he showed last year when he potted 27 goals.

Like almost every other forward on this team, the well has gone dry.

"It is not fun at all," he remarked. "It's not like we are showing up at the rink and it is all fun and games.

"We are athletes and professionals and what we want to do is win.

"It is tough right now and we have to grind it out."

It's also bad timing in another respect for the 25-year-old winger because his contract is up at the end of this season.

Earning $925,000 US this season, his bargaining power has certainly dropped from last spring.

"Hopefully they (Oilers' management) know that when things go well they have seen that side (too)," said Torres.




:( Poor Raf. Everyone on the Oilers seems to be a in a rut this season though.
If all else fails, he can become a pimp. I mean, a golfer.

More injuries! YIPEE

Another game, another loss, another injury.
Two injuries actually.
Both Staios and Hejda left the game with injuries in the 1st period.
Staios got hit, not really hard from my view, but he landed awkwardly. Probably his bad knee again. Ouch. Poor Staios. :(
Didn't notice when or how Hejda got hurt, didn't even notice he was gone until mid-way thru the 2nd period when my friend commented "Where's Hejda?"
Got a text message from a friend watching at home that he, along with Staios, was done for the game. :(
Saw him after the game (yes, creeping for more autos!) with his left arm not thru his jacket sleeve.
Let me guess, a shoulder injury! GEESH.

What the fuck is with all the shoulder injuries and concussions this season?!?!?!
Who the hell is even left to re-call from the AHL on defense? Roy, Gilbert (both injured) are up, Syvret is up ..................... there is seriously no decent defensemen prospects to be called up if Staios and/or Hejda's injuries keep them out of the line-up beyond tonight's game.
Thank God we have Petersen to fill in on defense! :/

What the fuck did the Oilers do to piss off the hockey Gods?!!?!
Hasn't karma fucked us over enough already by not only us losing game 7 of the SCF last season, but to be out of the playoffs (so early) during the stretch run?!?!?
UGH.

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The boys didn't play so terrible tonight, I think they looked a lot better than they have in the last few games, but still the same problem - couldn't score. Tampa didn't need many chances tonight, and when they did have them, they buried just enough to win. The Oilers had a few grade A chances, but Denis stymied them, until Smid broke his shut-out bid in the last 3 minutes with a bullet from the point. He was most impressive tonight.
The Oilers did come out hitting and kept up the physical play. Butttttttttttttttt again a team comes in having played the night before and walked out with the two points.

Now the boys head out for the California road-trip (Anaheim, Los Angeles, San Jose) with a 5 game losing streak packed in their bags, being out scored 19 to 4 in those five games, including two shut-outs against. So hurtin. So very hurtin.

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Beyond my last two games I have tickets for (March 19 vs Vancouver and March 24th vs Nashville) I am giving up on trying to watch as many games as possible. It's just too painful to watch anymore.


It's tough sledding being an Oilers fan when they are a losing team. Tough sledding.
:,(