Oilers vs Maple Leafs Post Game Rant

Tonight's game had a 1980s feel about it. Fast-paced and action filled, win or lose, everybody who watched this game thoroughly enjoyed themselves. This fight is between Wendel Clark and Marty McSorley. The year is 1985, Clark's rookie season and McSorley's first season as an Edmonton Oiler.

A great game! This is what hockey should be about, a good time. You want to attract new fans, turn casual fans into every-day fans, get better T.V. exposure; you have to find a way to have games like tonight's more often. I have no idea as to how one would accomplish this, this job belongs to Gary Bettman and the NHL Board of Governors.

Without going into too much detail, it is late and I am tired, here is a list of Edmonton Oilers players who stood above the rest: Taylor Hall, Ales Hemsky, Jordan Eberle, Ben Eager and Jeff Petry.

Prior to his injury, I thought he played well. Not great, not spectacular, he just made the simple and safe plays. But since his return, Cam Barker has been dreadful, there is no nice way to put it. Another game, another few giveaways and one giveaway that had the entire Oilers' Nation simultaneously screaming what the ...... Aside from the giveaways, Barker's skating, positional play and just plain usefulness is in question. I have little doubt that the Oilers will not qualify Barker, as a result Barker will become a UFA and I think hard-pressed to find a job in the NHL for anything more than the league minimum in salary and a one-year deal.

Aside from Cam Barker's play, what else is there to complain about with this game? Well, sure, the Edmonton Oilers lost. Do you mind when the Oilers, while re-building, lose games in this fashion? Losing with effort, heart and character is a lot less painful than losing a stinker.

Once, just once I would like to see the Edmonton Oilers impose their will on a team, play their best against the opposition's best. During the first period, Could a possible Gagner Line vs Kessel Line match-up be any where near as one-sided as the Belanger Line vs Kessel Line matchup was? I would have even taken the Horcoff Line vs Kessel Line match-up over the one that was employed by Tom Renney this evening.

I grew up during the 1980s, watching the great Edmonton Oilers' dynasty and watching what I believe  to be the greatest  decade of hockey ever played. Games like this evening get me excited, to think that a fast-paced and non-stop action filled game can still be played in today's NHL. There was very little in the way of systems being utilized tonight and when this occurs you get to view just how talented today's NHL player really is. A fun game to watch.

This has been a see-saw battle on Rexall ice. Prior to tonight, neither team had put together consecutive wins in this series while playing in Edmonton since the Oilers did so in 2002. There had been seven games played, Toronto had won four of them, all of the odd numbered games. Toronto ends the see-saw battle by winning the eight game and their second in a row on Rexall ice. Overall, a fairly even past ten games. Toronto leads the series six games to four. 

Phil Kessel and Joffrey Lupul came out of the gate, this season, like gang-busters. Both players were tearing up the league, to many fans astonishment. Unable to keep the early pace that they set, Kessel and Lupul have still remained among the NHL's elite point-producers. Kessel has 62 points in 58 games, good enough for fifth in the Art Ross Trophy Race. Lupul has 61 points in 58 games, good enough for sixth in the NHL. It is quite simple for the Toronto Maple Leafs, when these two players are on ... so are the Maple Leafs. 

There was some speculation today, brought forth by the announcement of Nikolai Khabibulin as the starting goaltender for the Edmonton Oilers, that the Toronto Maple Leafs could be one of those teams that could use his services. It is felt by many that the Maple Leafs' goaltending could not handle an opening round playoff series against the likes of the New York Rangers or Boston Bruins. Toronto is currently in 8th place, little chance of finishing higher than 7th and in a dog-fight with the Washington Capitals , Winnipeg Jets and Ottawa Senators for the final two playoff positions in the Eastern Conference.

You can take Ryan Smyth's name off of the rumour mill of those potential Oilers who might be dealt. Smyth confirmed Tuesday morning that he had no desire to leave Edmonton. As reported by Mark Spector/Sportsnet.ca 

"I'm staying put," Smyth said on Tuesday. He and Tambellini had held separate media scrums after Monday's practice, leaving some question as to whether they were both on the same page.

"A lot of things were up in the air," Smyth said. "Then we got back here (to Rexall Place from practice at a suburban rink) and he wanted to chat, clear the air, settle everything. I'm staying put, this is where my family and I call home.

"It's a nice feeling to hear that he wasn't interested in moving me. It's nice to know they're interested in keeping me around," Smyth added. "I'd love to sign an extension at some point."

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