I’ve always hated yo-yos, because I could never figure out how to make them work. Maybe I lacked coordination, patience or brainpower, but while other kids pulled off cool tricks like the cat’s cradle or walking the dog, a yo-yo was always useless in my hands. I was frustrated because others made it look so easy, spinning the yo-yo for as long as they wanted before drawing it back into their hand with a flick of the wrist. Their mastery compounded my misery, until I finally gave up trying all together.
Coming into Rexall Place after a five-day layoff, the Vancouver Canucks worked the Edmonton Oilers like a yo-yo on Wednesday night, skating away with a 5-4 victory. The home team never enjoyed a lead. They battled back from 2-0, 3-1 and 4-3 deficits, but each time the Oilers scored an equalizer the Canucks would expend some effort and regain the lead. It was just that simple. The visitors dictated the play at will, forcing turnovers and working the cycle as casually as a spinning yo-yo.
The Oilers never seriously threatened after tying the score, and I’d be surprised if anyone ever had the impression a win was possible. Vancouver goaltender Ryan Miller had a shaky night, giving up four goals on 32 shots, but he still outplayed Ben Scrivens, who allowed five on 31, and Edmonton (6-11-2) has lost four straight one-goal games. It’s been a while since we’ve done this after a loss, but let’s use Dallas Eakins’ postgame quotes to help tell the story about how this one got away from the Oilers.
“The guys that have to be critical for us, they weren’t there for us. For whatever reason, they couldn’t get it done. The guys that we rely on less played well. Your key guys have to be your drivers every night. And it’s not just two or three, we had a number of guys struggle throughout the game.”
There’s some of Eakins’ old fire that he’s been suppressing all season. I like the assessment and he’s exactly right, the big guns were MIA and it proved to be the difference in the outcome. While the Swedish twins and Radim Vrbata combined for seven points, the Oilers’ top line tallied only one—Taylor Hall’s second assist on the Andrew Ference goal. That contrast showed why Edmonton had to rely on counterpunching, while Vancouver controlled long stretches of play and came out on top.
“We haven’t had the finish (on the power play). Our execution wasn’t there. We work a ton on our power play, it’s something that we’re always touching on. We may have to go to a different look. We think both units can get it done if you look at the names, if you look at the skill sets.”
It’s difficult to finish when you don’t fire the biscuit. Edmonton had only three shots during five power play opportunities, and didn’t record a single shot during their 5-on-3 advantage in the third period. I’m not a fan of low-percentage shots, but park some bodies in front and fire away on the power play. The Oilers managed a power play goal thanks to Teddy Purcell, who was easily the team’s best forward, but wasted too many golden chances and sacrificed another lazy shorthanded goal.
“I thought Nicky (Nikita Nikitin) could have been better. I think he’d tell you that too. He’s been battling through some back issues that kinda come and go. We needed more from him tonight, but I know Nicky’s gonna battle hard and dig his heels in.”
Nikitin was high in the running for worst free agent signing before the ink was dry on his two-year, $9 million contract. After watching his 16 games, I’m convinced he’s the worst of the bunch. Nikitin panics under pressure and can’t handle the forecheck, swatting the puck from his own zone rather than moving it with composure. Nikitin had three giveaways, was on the ice for both of Vancouver’s power play goals, and ended up with a team-high 23:18 in ice-time. He’s part of the problem.
“(Winning) is an acquired taste. Usually it goes from a team that suffers greatly, who get outchanced and outshot by a ton, and then you start closing the gap. You’re in the games, and then you start winning some of those games, and you acquire the taste. We’re trying to get there. Last year we were the team who was constantly outshot, constantly outchanced. It wasn’t closing a one-goal game, it was trying to get back in a game you’re down three and four in. It’s gotta come now.”
Can we stop shoveling dirt on the 2013-14 season, then using it to demonstrate progress in 2014-15? If I’d have known that Eakins and Craig MacTavish were going to use last season as a low-water mark, I would have been much harder on them at the time. Here are the facts: A chunk of the roster wasn’t around last season, the new additions aren’t much better than the guys they replaced, the players who remained haven’t shown significant improvement, and the Oilers are still failing horribly.
“You’ve gotta be very careful with just sitting guys on the bench after a mistake. If they make the same mistake three or four times in a game you start cutting them back. But then it all depends on how are guys playing behind them? If you’ve got a couple guys at the same position struggling that night it’s hard to sit them and cut their ice-time back, because who are you going to put on the ice?”
Eakins keeps uttering these little jabs about the players he’s been given to work with. Frankly, I don’t blame him. Many defend MacTavish simply because he isn’t Steve Tambellini, and that’s a great thing, but he’s failed to provide goaltending, defence, or forwards that can realistically compete for the playoffs. I’m not letting Eakins off the hook, just stating that the roster is significantly flawed and the coach keeps alluding to it. He’s in a tough spot, but he knew that coming into Edmonton.
Does anybody care anymore? Is the season even worth saving at this point? The Oilers are wrapping up the easy portion of their schedule, they’ve been relatively healthy, and they’re still on pace for their worst season in franchise history. That’s right, Edmonton is on pace for a 60-point season, which would equal the catastrophic 1992-93 campaign. Point the finger, lay the blame, but just consider that things could have been much worse if the Canucks hadn’t toyed with the Oilers like a yo-yo.
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Oil Spills
- I suppose you’re never too old to learn something new. I knew that you couldn’t kick the puck in, but I always assumed that the goal counted if it bounced off something (or someone) else on the way into the net. Turns out that’s not the case, as David Perron’s booted bid in the closing seconds didn’t count, despite bouncing off the goaltender on the way in. At least the Rexall Place crowd behaved after the news, because we’ve seen beer showers and littered ice for less questionable calls in the past.
- The week is flying by, so go ahead and submit your queries for Friday’s Burning Questions. Every topic will be handled, from the latest Oilers loss to practical tips when asking for a raise (hint: watch Scarface twice the night before and you’re bulletproof). If you have a burning question (or just a mildly irritating question) feel free to either drop an e-mail or hit me up on Twitter. All questions submitted will be answered. Thanks for reading, and try to remember that Martin Marincin isn’t the answer.
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