Mistakes Costly as the Oilers Lose

Nick Schultz made his Edmonton Oilers debut tonight. Did you notice him? He wore number 15. He was the defensemen who did not try to do to much. He was the defensemen who made smart and quick plays with the pucks. He was the defensemen who played great positional hockey in is own end. He is the defensemen who was not noticed and that is a good thing when you are a stay-at-home defensemen, because those type of defensemen generally only get noticed for all the wrong reasons.

Have I missed something? Is Andy Sutton day-to-day with an injury? I don't recall hearing or reading about him being sidelined with an injury. The best thing about Andy Sutton is that he he keeps the pairing of Corey Potter and Cam Barker apart. So, if he is not injured, why is he not playing? The Potter/Barker pairing had a rough start to the game. Within their first three shifts they were responsible for 2 two-on-ones and 1 partial breakaway. The first two-on-one lead to the opening goal just 0:59 in. Cam Barker is slow-footed, Corey Potter is not good defensively, never should these two be paired together if you have a healthy Andy Sutton or even when Theo Peckham returns from injury. I certainly hope, after tonight's performance, that Andy Sutton is dressed the next game.

Yann Danis had mop-up duty tonight.

I was going to give Devan Dubnyk the benefit of the doubt on the first goal. It was a two on one, a quick-moving wrist-shot and maybe, to some, he should have had it. I think he should have had it. He is a big goalie and it was yet another puck that found its way between his arm and his upper torso. Then he allows the second goal, a goal that definitely should have been stopped. Scott Nichol does not beat NHL goaltenders with a slap-shot from the distance in which he took the shot from. It was not a spectacular shot, it was from the far boards, it was low and found its way between Dubnyk's blocker and his pad. Two questionable goals does not give your team a chance to win, especially when you are playing a team as stingy as the St. Louis Blues.

A week ago we all saw a blatant intent to injure kneeing penalty called on Scott Hartnell. he was angered by a previous hit by Corey Potter and was out for redemption. Hartnell was assessed a two minute minor penalty. This evening we see an accidental hit from behind from Ryan Smyth on Roman Polak. Although there was no intent to injure, it was still a dangerous play and I think the five minute major penalty was the right call. So, what's my beef? Consistency and the lack of it. The NHL is so fixated on concussions and hits from behind that other serious infractions are being minimized. Scott Hartnell should have received a major and an injection from the the hit that he applied to Magnus Paajarvi, just like Ryan Smyth received his major and injection from tonight's game.

One of the few times where Barker was effective.

I had it written in my head, the TSN Turning Point that took place over the final 12 minutes of the second period. Tom Renney calls a time-out, Dubnyk is pulled in favor of Yann Danis, Corey Potter scores, the Oilers do not allow a shot against during a five minute penalty-kill, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins scores to make it 3-2, the Edmonton Oilers head into the second intermission on a high and with all of the game's momentum. So what happened? Cam Barker's unnecessary slashing penalty happened. If you know me, you will know that I hate nothing more than a lack of effort and lazy penalties.  2:25 into the third period is where the game started to get away from the Oilers. Barker's penalty would lead to a power-play goal 63 seconds later. 

I mentioned some line juggling the last game. A recap: Sam Gagner remains on a line with Jordan Eberle, they have chemistry? Gagner has had a good February, but take into account that eleven of his eighteen points were in two games. I like the notion of having one puck carrier on each line. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Ales Hemsky are puck carriers. I would prefer that Ryan Nugent-Hopkins centers a line with Jordan Eberle and Ryan Smyth. You have your puck carrier, your shooter and net crasher on one line. The second line would have Hall as the shooter, Hemsky as the puck carrier and Gagner as the net crasher, or slot hoverer. Remember, Nugent-Hopkins had chemistry with Eberle prior to his injuries. Based on the last four games, I think a line shuffling is required. Gagner is pointless in his last four games and Ryan Smyth has one assist. Jordan Eberle, despite the lack of help from his line-mates, is still producing. Eberle's last four games, two goals and an assist.

Earlier today, Magnus Paajarvi was reassigned to the Oklahoma City Barons of the AHL. I applaud this move. Playing in Oklahoma City will only help Paajarvi's development. Paajarvi will be given top line minutes and power-play time while playing for one of the AHL's elite teams. The Barons are positioned and are forecasted as serious Calder Trophy contenders.

Ken Hitchcock's first practice as the Blues' coach.

The last time these two teams met, January 19th, I stated the following: Under Ken Hitchcock, the St. Louis Blues play a brash brand of hockey that relies heavily on a strong forecheck, short/energy-filled shifts and a commitment to defense. Come playoff time, do not be surprised if the St. Louis Blues find their way into the Western Conference Finals. I still stand by this statement and since I made this statement, the St. Louis Blues have won 13 games, lost five games and have 1 OT/SO defeat.

The St. Louis Blues were 6-7-0 when Ken Hitchcock took over the coaching duties. Under Ken Hitchcock the Blues are 34-10-7. Hitchcock took a 14th place team, in the Western conference, to a team that is in contention to win the Western conference regular season title. Under Hitchcock's watch the goals-for-per-game average is 0.22 lower, but the goals-against-per-game average is 0.77 lower. The St. Louis Blues are winning by defense and goaltending, a trademark of Ken Hitchcock teams.

Interesting fact: Under the old divisional playoff format and prior to NHL expansion in 1992/93, the Edmonton Oilers and St. Louis Blues played in the same and un-changed conference for eleven season, 1981/82 to 1991/92. St. Louis is only one of two teams that the Edmonton Oilers did not play against in Campbell Conference side of the playoff bracket. The other team, the Toronto Maple Leafs.  

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