Kukla's Korner Hockey

Category: Edmonton-Oilers

Troubling Play

by Paul on 11/06/09 at 09:23 AM ET
Comments (0)

from Terry Jones of the Edmonton Sun,

The Edmonton Oilers are clearly a hockey team in big, big trouble. And next comes double trouble.

It was Game 16 and the body language of Pat Quinn’s team was that of a club mopping up the season with 16 games to go and out of the playoffs.

The Oilers now head into the double trouble part of the schedule which will see them play 11 of the next 16 games on the road as a result of the combination of the Canadian Finals Rodeo and the Roar of the Rings Olympic curling trials taking over Rexall Place.

Which means they can spread the flu to Colorado, Ottawa, Buffalo, Atlanta, Columbus, Vancouver, Detroit, Dallas, Florida, Tampa Bay and St. Louis while at the same time temporarily

continued

Filed in: NHL Teams, Edmonton Oilers | KK Hockey | Permalink
 

Penner At Top When Playing At Even Strength

by Paul on 10/30/09 at 09:08 PM ET
Comments (3)

from David Staples at the Cult Of Hockey,

Right now, Penner is a different kind of all by himself, right at the very top of the NHL when it comes to point production at even strength.

Heading into Friday night’s games, according to Behind the Net, Penner is averaging 4.86 points for every 60 minutes of even strength play, while Alexander Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals is at 4.77 points per 60 minutes of play, good for second place.

The next most productive scorers are Brad Richards, wonder kid Ryan O’Reilly, Marian Gaborik and Gilbert Brule.

What does this tell us, other than Penner is doing a great imitation of Phil Esposito right now?

read on

Filed in: NHL Teams, Edmonton Oilers | KK Hockey | Permalink
 Tags: Dustin+Penner,

Walking Around In A Fog After A Concussion

by Paul on 10/30/09 at 08:26 AM ET
Comments (0)

from Robert Tychkowski of the Edmonton Sun,

Steve Staios felt like he was stuck in Groundhog Day, and every morning was a wicked New Year’s Day hangover that wouldn’t go away.

Knocked out of Edmonton’s lineup with a concussion two games into the season, he’s been trying to free himself from the cobwebs ever since.

“The first 10 days that I took off were not very good at all—I had some really rough days,” said the Oilers defenceman, who felt well enough, finally, to skate for the first time yesterday,

“I’m glad I’m past those because they were tough. Walking around in a fog, you don’t feel crisp. That hangover feeling all day.

“It was a little bit concerning at some points, but you try not to make too much of it and hope the next day was a good day.”

continued

Filed in: NHL Teams, Edmonton Oilers | KK Hockey | Permalink
 Tags: Steve+Staios,

Penner Finding His ‘A’ Game

by Paul on 10/28/09 at 12:46 PM ET
Comments (0)

from Pierre LeBrun of ESPN,

Whatever the reason, he’s a different player on the ice. He gets from A to Z so much quicker these days. The puck seems to follow him.

“I do feel faster,” said Penner. “I’ve watched some of my shifts on tape.”

Perhaps he’s simply had his eureka moment. The 27-year-old would be following in the long line of power wingers that have taken a bit longer to figure it out. From Cam Neely to John LeClair to Todd Bertuzzi to Johan Franzen, they all took two or three NHL seasons to find their “A” game.

“Anticipating is a huge part of it because I’m already moving my feet because I know where the puck is going to go and I’m confident I want to get it,” Penner said of his new mindset. “Before, it was like, ‘Geez, if I touch the puck now, I could screw up and I’ll just compound a problem that’s already there.’ So when you’re tentative, you tend to look lethargic and slow.”

more

Filed in: NHL Teams, Edmonton Oilers | KK Hockey | Permalink
 Tags: Dustin+Penner,

Last Year’s Oilers Show Up

by Paul on 10/28/09 at 09:01 AM ET
Comments (0)

from Terry Jones of the Edmonton Sun,

Last night they looked like the Oilers who were booed out of their building again and again and again last year and conspired to get Craig MacTavish fired as they missed the playoffs for a third consecutive season.

They were back to being a pushover to play in their own building and unable to score a goal for the second game in a row as they recorded their third straight loss of the season, 3-0 to the Colorado Avalanche.

They reeked.

“Obviously it’s embarrassing getting shutout two games in a row,” said Sam Gagner. “Tonight we didn’t even show up in the first period.”

It was the worst first period the Oilers played this year.

It started with the $7 million dollar man, Shawn Horcoff, losing the opening face-off and then turning the puck over as the Avalanche took a 1-0 lead only 25 seconds into the game.

read on

Filed in: NHL Teams, Edmonton Oilers | KK Hockey | Permalink
 

Oilers Scout Watching The Habs

by Paul on 10/26/09 at 05:57 AM ET
Comments (0)

from Brian Wilde of CTV Montreal,

From my time with the Oilers in Edmonton dating back to the early 90’s, one of the relationships I have been able to foster is with Kevin Prendergast. He’s an extremely intelligent hockey man who is the top scout and decision maker for talent, young and old, that the Oilers might be interested in. Prendergast and I talk usually when he takes in a Habs game. He doesn’t take in many. Every two or three months, he watches one contest and then moves on to the next city whether it be Ottawa or Albany....

I mention all of this because Prendergast has spent the last three games watching the Habs home stand.

more

thanks to a KK reader for the pointer…

Filed in: NHL Teams, Edmonton Oilers, Montreal Canadiens | KK Hockey | Permalink
 

Watching The Oilers

by Paul on 10/24/09 at 10:12 AM ET
Comments (0)

from Robert Tychkowski of the Edmonton Sun,

Fourth in the league in fights and second in goals scored, these guys are getting fun to watch.

“Right from Day 1, it was something everybody in the room was aware of, that we needed to change our philosophy, especially at home,” said captain Ethan Moreau.

“And we did that. Nobody really had to re-invent themselves, it was just a few subtle changes, adding a few physical guys, and it carried through the team.”

Combine that with a coach who favours attacking rather than defending and they’ve already delivered six months’ worth of wow in October alone.

read on

Filed in: NHL Teams, Edmonton Oilers | KK Hockey | Permalink
 

Morning Line

by Paul on 10/23/09 at 09:32 AM ET
Comments (1)

“I was trying to set small goals first, I wasn’t expecting to see my name up with the league-leaders.  That would have to be the best game of my career, certainly statistically. The stars lined up for me and my linemates tonight.

“It feels really good. I don’t know the last time I was on a team that bounced back from down as much as we were. That’s one of the games where you know the true meaning of momentum.”

-Dustin Penner of the Edmonton Oilers after a 5 point night (2g, 3a).  More on the game from the CP at the Globe and Mail.

Filed in: NHL Teams, Edmonton Oilers | KK Hockey | Permalink
 Tags: Dustin+Penner,

Oh So Close

by Paul on 10/20/09 at 12:02 PM ET
Comments (1)

Kyle Wellwood with a goal?  Nope, final horn beat him last night.

Filed in: NHL Teams, Edmonton Oilers, Vancouver Canucks | KK Hockey | Permalink
 

Sheldon Souray Hits The Gossip Pages

by Paul on 10/18/09 at 08:58 AM ET
Comments (0)

Various U.S. publications and social media are reporting that Souray’s ex Anjelica Bridges, “the Cougar of the Year,” is alleging that Souray tricked her out of millions and now is allegedly “threatening” to keep their children in Canada against her will.

read all about it from David Staples at The Cult Of Hockey.

Filed in: NHL Teams, Edmonton Oilers | KK Hockey | Permalink
 Tags: Anjelica+Bridges, Sheldon+Souray,

 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11          Next »