Trouble on the Homefront, Method to the Madness

HOME ICE (DIS)ADVANTAGE?

The Oilers are mediocre at home, and were pretty decent on their recent long road trip, leading one to wonder... what the hell is wrong with playing at home? I've seen this type of play before from Oiler teams in the past: trying to be too cute, make the pretty play, one-man deke-fests with the end result being a lack of goals. This is what we saw last night. They are averaging nearly a goal-a-game less this season at home (2.0 GPG) vs. on the road (2.8 GPG). Troubling to say the least. It would be nice to see some crisp passing, simple dump-and-chase and puck support a bit more often. There is something to be said for the simple play. If the effort is there, and the simple play keeps the puck in the o-zone, then I guarantee we will start seeing more red lights. Doesn't hurt to try, does it?
Still on the same topic, if Gagner makes one more cute, soft drop pass on the rush I will revoke my fanboy membership.


MACTAVISH THE MAD SCIENTIST

Does anyone else get the feeling that Craig MacTavish has method to some of the recent madness we've been seeing in him? Pisani at center, Smid on the wing, Cole on the left side, Gagner on the PK, calling out Penner, constant line shuffling, etc... at a cursory glance it's a bloody madhouse he's running! Some bloggers are calling this the end-of-days for MacT, and that might be the case. Another scenario might be that he is on a very long leash this year, with the focus on developing, training and feeling out his players.
That is the only logical solution that I can see here, as this coach isn't stupid. Playing guys in odd situations may have an end design to it, as he might be trying to develop these guys into the well-rounded players that he covets. Take Smid on the wing as an example. One could argue that playing Smid here gives him some more range to skate freely and hit, and develop some offensive awareness. To be honest, Smid has looked very solid of late on the back end, and maybe it's his offense that the coach wants to develop quicker. Maybe the coach sees promise in him. Maybe he's not in the doghouse at all. Just maybe.


TOMMY BOY'S BLOG

Has anyone else been reading Tom Gilbert's blog at all? If you haven't, it's worth it for a chuckle or two. Essentially he writes like his audience is 12 year old girls, discussing most recently about going to see High School Musical 3 (apparently not as good as the first two)! Didn't this guy go to college?

Random Notes

ROTTEN, ROTTEN SCHEDULE:

Can you believe what the Oil have to put up with schedule-wise this year? Long early road trip aside, it certainly doesn't make much sense to have to play a home-and-home Monday-Thursday with the defending champs and stick us with a game in Columbus on Tues night, all while the Wings are sipping Mai Tais on the beach and towel-snapping cabana boys on a two-day break. (Okay, maybe maybe beers in the pub with a barkeep, but I like to pretend that Pavel Datsuyk is cracking a wet towel at beach walk-bys!) Jeez that was random... okay, anyhow: The Schedule. It makes no sense. Unless you start subscribing to some of the conspiracy talk about Bettman and the head office having it in for the Oil. And that isn't that hard to believe after seeing this purtid stank of a sked. Why did we have to play Columbus Tuesday, with five days off after Thurs?

Believe me, I don't like whine anymore than you do, and this may seem like a bit of a rant, but I think there is a valid point here. And that is: We are getting screwed.


PENNER SITS 2, COMES BACK ANGRY:

Watching Penner play Tuesday night against Columbus after sitting in the PB for two made me think of this familiar scene (modified for our scenario) from a favorite movie:

Craig Mactavish: "You gotta get angry! You gotta get meeeeeeeeean!"
Dustin Penner: "I guess I'm not really an angry person."
MacT: (Punches Penner in the groin) "Are you angry now?"

I hope the Dustin Penner we saw Tuesday is the same DP who shows up for the rest of the season, as he was doing what we hoped he would do: forecheck agressively, give and take some hits, take a beatdown in front of the net on the PP, score, etc. If he reverts back to lazy Dustin, and he probably will, then that will spell trouble for the coaching staff. Calling out Dustin on his poor play was the right move from MacTavish - if that is what it takes to get through to him - but it means that MacT has left himself exposed.

Hell, I don't profess to understand the inner workings of the Oiler organization, but with the recent changes to ownership and GM it makes one wonder who is calling what shots now. Three goalies and plucking goons off waivers must have Craig punching pillows at night.


SHELDON IS A STUD:

And no, I don't mean he's dreamy. I mean: This guy can play. We all knew he had a shot, but he has stepped up and carried us on his shoulders. A few wins can be directly attributed to his standout play, and he looks steadier in the D-zone than I originally thought. By far the best D-man, and seems to relish the added responsibility of more ice time and the "A" on his sweater. Did you see the way he gave Penner a look and a shot to the arm after the PP goal in the third last game? Penner took a beating in front of the net for the screen, and big Sheldon's man-love seemed to say, "Way to go, big guy!"

I would love to see this guy wear the "C" one day.

How the bloody hell does THIS make things better?

ANOTHER ENFORCER?
The Oilers announced yesterday that they have claimed goon Jesse Boulerice off waivers from the Avalanche. The same guy who wasn't allowed back in the OHL for this, and who was suspended for 25 games last year for this. Boulerice is a brutal hockey player (see stats), and not even a very good fighter. This is terrible news if the Oilers plan to keep him, and I don't stand alone on this opinion (viewing comments made on other blogs here, here, etc). I would really prefer if this guy doesn't put on an Oiler jersey.
I really hope that this is more of a stratigic play than a hockey move - as the Oil play the Avs Saturday night, and perhaps they weren't looking forward to playing AGAINST stick-weilding Jesse. One can hope he stays in the PB and is waived on Sunday.

THE THIRD HEAD SAYS, "LOOK AT ME!"
Jeff Droulin-Deslauriers (of the Oilers Three-headed goalie monster) has played the previous 2.5 games for the Oil, and he has looked good. Scary good. Confident with a big calm presence, he has most fans excited about his future. He is outplaying his past numbers (AHL, ECHL) by a long shot, so don't expect this to continue for much longer. But I'll revel in it while it lasts.
His play also muddies the goalie picture, with the two vets on the last year of their respective contracts, and Garon likely looking to resign. What should the Oil do? Trade a vet goalie? Send down JDD and risk waivers? I say stand pat. The goalie situation will "play" itself out in time, and we can trade months from now when the playoff picture is closer and the value is (hopefully) higher.

WITH THE REVOLVING DOOR OF LINEMATES, HEMSKY GETS CONFUSED AND CONTINUES SCORING INSTEAD OF PASSING
Thank god the Fernando experiment is over. Pisani at center was not the best idea MacT has ever tried (I seem to remember Smyth was involved in a similar failed experiment). I'm also glad to see the kid line split, and the distribution of talent over four lines. With Stortini in and the enforcer-of-the-day out, we can roll 4 solid lines and gain momentum.
Also, I am a big fan of the Horcoff-Pisani-Cole line. Beauty "second" line who can play against anyone. Love it.