GAME DAY #52: Oilers @ Senators - 7:30 pm - Thursday, Feb 4 2016

OK, let's just get this over with. Looks like we'll be picking top-ten in June. Auston! Auston! Auston!

GO SENS GO!!!

While we're waiting to pick Top 10, let's beat the crap out of the Oilers. 9 - 0 Sens win, please.

It's hard to believe that, here we after the All Star Break and not a single Canadian team is either in a playoff spot or expected to contend for one this season.

The Alfie is on the ice this morning at practice.  Cue the comeback.  Onwards to victory.

Oh, and Methot is back with Karlsson, and it looks like Cowen will sit. Here's the D:

Methot-Karlsson
Boro-Ceci
Wiercioch-Wideman

and the Fs:

Hoff-ZBad-Ryan
Smith-Pageau-Stone
Dizzy-Lazar-Chiasson
Prince-McCormick-Neil


*sigh*

tim1_2 wrote:The Alfie is on the ice this morning at practice.  Cue the comeback.  Onwards to victory.

Oh, and Methot is back with Karlsson, and it looks like Cowen will sit.  Here's the D:

Methot-Karlsson
Boro-Ceci
Wiercioch-Wideman

and the Fs:

Hoff-ZBad-Ryan
Smith-Pageau-Stone
Dizzy-Lazar-Chiasson
Prince-McCormick-Neil


*sigh*

D is better. Can't really complain about that. But Dizzy on the 3rd and Prince with the plugs? I don't get Cameron sometimes.

So we dealt Gryba to clear room for Cowen (even though the two play on different sides). Because Gryba was gone (and Cameron didn't trust Wideman) we have seen Borowiecki play on his wrong side, which also led to the formation of the Cowen-Borowiecki top PK pair.

And what did we get for Gryba? Travis Ewanyk and a 4th pick (107th overall) with which they drafted Christian Wolanin. Ewanyk has 2 goals in 35 Bingo games. Wolanin is doing pretty well as a freshman for UND, but he's likely to stay there four years and finish his degree. Long-term project, at best.

What's your point, Walter? Gryba wasn't some sort of gifted defenceman. Having him in our lineup right now would be at the expense of Wideman or Ceci....

tim1_2 wrote:The Alfie is on the ice this morning at practice.  Cue the comeback.  Onwards to victory.

Oh, and Methot is back with Karlsson, and it looks like Cowen will sit.  Here's the D:

Methot-Karlsson
Boro-Ceci
Wiercioch-Wideman

and the Fs:

Hoff-ZBad-Ryan
Smith-Pageau-Stone
Dizzy-Lazar-Chiasson
Prince-McCormick-Neil


*sigh*

Prince should get a chance on that 2 line. Cameron is challenged. The only thing i can think is that Prince isn't playing the way Cameron wants him to. But I don't see that for myself. At this point I'd almost like to exchange places with Richardson.

tim1_2 wrote:What's your point, Walter?  Gryba wasn't some sort of gifted defenceman.  Having him in our lineup right now would be at the expense of Wideman or Ceci....

I will say this though. Losing Condra and Gryba have worsened the PK.

tim1_2 wrote:What's your point, Walter?  Gryba wasn't some sort of gifted defenceman.  Having him in our lineup right now would be at the expense of Wideman or Ceci....

Gryba played right side on the third pairing and he was fine there. Sure, that meant that Wideman couldn't get into the lineup. But now Gryba is gone, Wideman is up here and for many (too many) games he sat while Boro played his wrong-side and Wideman sat. If Gryba was still here I think Cameron would have played him instead of Boro on that side.

It's like there is a disconnect between the GM and the head coach, and this is not the first coach we've had that's done this. Murray trades away Gryba and promotes Wideman to the NHL. We have only 3 righties and 4 lefties (not counting Phillips) and yet Cameron plays only two of those righties.

Put McDavid down for at least 2 goals tonight.

Flo The Action wrote:
Prince should get a chance on that 2 line. Cameron is challenged. The only thing i can think is that Prince isn't playing the way Cameron wants him to. But I don't see that for myself. At this point I'd almost like to exchange places with Richardson.

Only Borowiecki is playing the way Cameron wants him to.

LeCaptain wrote:

tim1_2 wrote:What's your point, Walter?  Gryba wasn't some sort of gifted defenceman.  Having him in our lineup right now would be at the expense of Wideman or Ceci....

I will say this though. Losing Condra and Gryba have worsened the PK.

Having a real rightie clearing the puck on the PK does help.

LeCaptain wrote:

tim1_2 wrote:What's your point, Walter?  Gryba wasn't some sort of gifted defenceman.  Having him in our lineup right now would be at the expense of Wideman or Ceci....

I will say this though. Losing Condra and Gryba have worsened the PK.

This is true.

NHL.com saying Methot will be a gametime decision? Auston, here we come!