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.