The Oilers finished February and began March like a lion with a
five-game unbeaten streak under their belt. What was going right
for the woeful Oilers, who have been struggling so much the past
couple months?
Well, for starters, they've started scoring. You need to score to
start winning games, and that's precisely what they've been doing.
Also, their power play has been clicking of late and has produced
consistently during their unbeaten streak.
So why is the power play working? Well, coach Ron Low, was
frustrated with the fact that the Oilers had about as much a chance
of scoring on the power play as Steve Urkel does with Pam
Anderson. So he moved Doug Weight off the boards onto the point of
the power play, where he was able to distribute the puck better off
the point.
Then he moved Rem the Gem Murray to center on the first power-play
unit, where he was able to create some traffic in front of the net.
But the biggest thing the Low did was tell Boris Mironov to shoot
the puck more often, and try to hit the stupid net. Boris, of
course, complied and that resulted in a nice
five-goals-in-four-game scoring streak for Bob. That resulted in
some nice points for the Oilers to keep them in the Western
Conference playoff race.
Of course two of the games during the Oilers unbeaten streak were
against a Dominik Hasek-less Buffalo Sabres team. Both times, the
Sabres started Dwayne Roloson, and both times they had to yank him
in favour of Martin Biron.
The Oilers can thank their lucky stars that they didn't have to face
the Dominator this season, or else the Oilers could have walked home
with a big frown, and no points.
But their unbeaten streak wasn't all against teams with missing
pieces. The Oil had the misfortune of facing the Colorado
Avalanche and their newest member, Theo Fleury. Everyone could
have counted the Oil down and out with the Avs riding the
adrenaline from their latest acquisition, that sparkplug Fleury.
But luckily, the Avs started out of the gates slow, and fell flat on
their face, giving the Oilers a lofty 4-0 lead.
But hold on, this is a team that boasts a power-play unit featuring
Peter Forsberg, Joe Sakic, Valeri Kamensky, Sandis Ozolinsh, and
now Theo Fleury. The Avs came dangerously close to nipping the
Oilers in the bud as the Avs stormed back quickly (almost at will)
with three goals.
Luckily, the Oilers were able to hold the Avs at bay long enough to
collect two points, then paint the town red after the game.
But not all games finished with a happy ending. The Oilers'
unbeaten streak ended Saturday in Washington, as the Capitals came
back after a 2-0 deficit and beat the Oil 4-3. The team was
obviously shaken after reading Monica's book and seeing her special
with Barbara Walters, how could they play hockey after all the evil
things Bill and Ken Starr did to her?
That, and the Oilers were an extremely fatigued team. That was
their seventh game in 11 nights, and that Zippergate scandal didn't
help them cope any better.
The Oilers had a 2-0 lead on the Caps halfway through the second
period. When two things happened: 1) Oilers fatigue set in and 2)
Adam Oates. Oates brought his team back from the dead, and led the
Caps to four unanswered goals, leaving the Oil high and dry.
Other Stuff:
YEAH, BUT CAN HE DANCE?
So it looks like the Oilers goaltending situation has stabilized a
little bit, for now. The Oilers called up farmhand Steve Passmore,
who has played solidly for the Oilers.
Right now he's sitting with a 1-2-1 record. Neither of the two
losses can be blamed on Passmore, it was more the team's inability
to score, or play well enough in front of him. Passmore's play has
been more than adequate.
The only question right now is where does Mikail Shtalenkov fit into
the puzzle now? Nobody likes being a third wheel, and that is
precisely what Shtalenkov is right now. Word is he could be traded
to the Phoenix Coyotes, or the Buffalo Sabres, or even sent down to
the Hamilton Bulldogs of the AHL.
Shtalenkov has been less than stellar for the latter part of the
season, and seems unable to carry a large game load. Maybe all
those years as a backup hasn't prepared him to handle 50 games a
season.
Bob Essensa has been sharing the time with Passmore, as they are now
alternating games. Like Batman and Robin, Essensa and Passmore make
a good tandem. Essensa, the quiet seasoned veteran, while Passmore is
the young, excitable rookie.
WHAT'S HE GOING TO DO? BEAT ME UP?
Yes he is, and that's what he did.
So the Buffalo Sabres were visiting the Oilers at the Skyreach
Centre in Edmonton last week, the game proceeds as usual.
Up-and-coming Oiler bodyguard Georges Laraque asked seasoned goon
Rob Ray if he wanted to dance. Much to Laraque (the Rock)'s dismay,
Ray turned him down. Then later in the game, Ray decided he tangle
with someone not his own size, as he started picking on Oilers
stars Doug Weight and Billy the Butcher Guerin.
This infuriated the Oilers to no end, especially Georges Laraque.
After the game, Laraque said Ray would get what's coming to him.
Ray responded that by musing, "What's he going to do? Beat me up?"
So next week rolls by, and the Oilers and Sabres meet again. First
chance he gets, the Rock goes after Ray. And man, Laraque beat Ray
like a rented mule. Laraque pummeled Ray into next week. Ray
didn't even get a shot in, and when the Rock was finished, Ray had
to be helped off the ice.
The 245-pound Laraque set a precedent for the Oilers and the rest of
the NHL, and that was, don't screw with our good players. The
fight, without a doubt must have made highlight reels around the
league, because Laraque thrashed Ray. Probably one of the most
severe beatings in recent memory.
AT LEAST HE'S GOOD FOR SOMETHING
The Oilers' third goal against Washington the other night was a big
time fluke, it went off Alex Selivanov's head.
The recently acquired Russian, with the exception of a few games,
has been next to useless for the Oilers. But it was nice to see him
get another goal, his sixth as an Oiler, even if it did go off his
noggin. He'll take what he can get.
TRADE RUMOURS
It's been fairly quite on the rumour front lately. The Oilers in
the most talks have been Boris Mironov and Mikail Shtalenkov.
Mironov's rumoured destinations include Chicago, Philadelphia,
Detroit and Buffalo. No real word on what the Oilers would get in
return, but some say Philly would have to give up Rod Brind'amour.
Not bloody likely though.
Shtalenkov's could be going to the Phoenix Coyotes. Fellow Russian
goaltender Nikolai Khabibulin's injured, and the cavalry, Jimmy
Waite, has been pretty bad. Apparently the Oil are looking for
either Shane Doan or Brad Isbister in return for Shtalenkov.
