GDT: Oilers 5, Lightning 2 – Pre-season Game 2 – 2010-09-23 @ 7:00 PM – TSN
By Racki, September 23, 2010 9:32 am
Go, tim bits, go
So here it is… the first “real” game situation for Taylor Hall in an Oilers uniform, vs. another NHL team. The fans should be pretty jacked up about this one, and those of us at home can all have the luxury of being able to watch this one on TSN.
No word on lines or anything just yet, but I’m hoping to see Hall with Horcoff and Hemsky again tonight, as that line looked pretty good in the Joey Moss Cup, and Hall and Horcoff seem to have a bit of chemistry. I even wouldn’t mind seeing someone else on that right wing, and have Hemsky instead playing with Pääjärvi. I won’t hold my breath on that one. I love it when we play teams in the East though… Hemsky seems to come alive, so I’m looking for a big game from him and whomever is lucky enough to play with him.
EDIT: Lines are up now… here they are…
Edmonton Oilers Lineup
Hall – Gagner – Hemsky
Paajarvi – Cogliano – Penner
Reddox – Fraser – Brule
MacIntyre – Pitlick – Omark
Smid – Foster
Petiot – Gilbert
Belle – Plante
Dubnyk
Deslauriers
Tampa Bay Lightning Lineup
Harju – Persson – Purcell
Ashton – Wright – Connolly
Tryell – B. Jones – Hall
Malone – Pouliot – Downie
Ohlund – Clark
Vernace – R. Jones
Mihalik – Gudas
Ellis
Tokarski
POST-GAME REPORT
Wow, what a game. Let me first qualify this by reminding everyone (including myself) that this was a pretty poor Lightning lineup. They dressed the scraps tonight. So I’m trying to quell my own excitement, but man is Paajarvi good, or what?? I’d call him Hemsky light, but at 19 he seems to be far ahead of the Hemsky development curve (I’m not saying better than Hemsky today, but better than Hemsky at 19).
So my 3 stars for tonight (tip of the hat to Zack) are: Paajarvi, Paajarvi, Paajarvi.
Paajarvi’s first goal was a beauty. Well, up until the finish. They don’t remember how, they just remember how many. He picked up the puck leaving the Oilers zone, cut through a line of defence at the blue line in alone on Elli$, and whiffed on a wrister. But somehow it slid under Elli$.
On his second goal, Penner threaded a pass through a seam from the corner to the top of the other faceoff circle where Paajarvi hammered a one timer past Elli$.
On his third goal, it was probably another one he didn’t have business scoring, but it was a good individual effort to carry it in the zone, open up the defender and fire it through his legs past a screened Elli$ who watched it cruise past him.
On his assist, he made a good seam pass to Foster, at the blueline who wristed a hard pass on net to a fast approaching Cogliano, who tipped it in.
Aside from Paajarvi, Petiot was also a standout player tonight. He ate up nearly 20 minutes. I had no clue about this guy, to be honest. But I thought he played a very solid game that didn’t contain too many mistakes, if any. He even got over 6 mins of PK time with which he had no goals scored on his watch. He also looked very cool and collected on the powerplay, even bailing out Gilbert who got beat pinching in (wasn’t a bad play by Gilbert though). He seems to have a good set of wheels too.. very fluid skater. He probably will stay the year in Oklahoma City, but I think he is a great pickup for the Barons and may even get some call ups in which he can be counted on.
What about Taylor Hall?
He had a pretty good game tonight. Hemsky and him work well together. Hemsky was doing everything in his power to try and set the kid up. Hall scored a goal, much to the fans delight, in the 3rd period, short handed when Elli$ took matters into his own hands trying to clear it. Elli$ attempted to flip the puck out of the zone, but couldn’t get it past Hall as he knocked it down, carried it in and went around Elli$.
He also rang one off the post in the first on a hard wrister from the top of the circle and had another quality chance as well. I’d say he had a good game that drew compliments from the TSN staff.
- Metal&Oil:
- Racki:
- hemmerlady:
- Trogdor:
- Steve-O:
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Themocracy
PAAJARVI SCORESS!!!!
What a rocket!
WOW!! Paajarvi with a one-timing seeker!!!
Nice goal…
Still loving my bet on Paajarvi…
Love it!
What was your bet?
I’m loving this kid.
Paajarvi is just lighting this place up, I love it! What a shot on that 3nd goal!!
Thanks guys, I was concerned he had a horrible game last night, I’m glad to hear he played ok. Its his first, so i didnt expect too much from him.
Hopefully Jones gets better soon, he was having a good camp, and lookd like a good PK option, and 4th liner.
Duh, thanks!
Wow, how the hell did that stay out?
LOL – You’re gonna love this.
I was golfing with a buddy this summer – huge Nucks fan. He was talking up Hodgson (as most Nuck fans will do), and downplaying our 3 kids.
I basically gave him the option – his pick of any one of our 3 vs Hodgson for NHL points this season. I guessed correctly he would pick Paajarvi – a lot of the guys out here know of Hall and Eberle, but nothing of Maggie.
Anyways – I started laughing harder. Then he went the extra step and said “don’t worry – I’ll give you odds. If Hodgson wins, you buy me a bottle of Mission Hill’s finest. If your guy wins, I’ll buy you a Texas Mickey of your choice.”
*sigh* I should feel guilty about taking a suckers bet like that, but I don’t… Not one bit.
Duuuubie channelling Hasek lol!
Doobie held the fort there that one shift, but he hasn’t impressed me tonight. Looks like some jitters/rust to me. Fighting the puck, as they say. Poor control.
Nice hit!
Wow, what a hit byPetiot
I have been watching Petiot a bit closer tonight, and been shocked so far what I’m seeing (not just on that hit). He’s been cool/collected out there and looks seasoned. I didn’t know what to expect of that pick up, but seems like it could have been a good one. He’ll be good for OKC.
JDD in the game now
Another nice one timer by Paajarvi… perhaps a match for Hemmer, or is that too much finesse on one line?
Lazy penalty by Omark.
Petiot is having a SOLID game tonight, looking forward to seeing him bolster the Barons hopefully.
Hall looks ok to this point, wish that post went in!
I think Paajarvi’s got enough grit in his game to play on the same line with Hemmer…
And that shot would be pretty awesome on the end of Hemsky’s feeds.
Ya, Omark has been having good 1st periods then he kinda gets left behi nd as the game wears on. I don’t think he makes the team this season.
MP is a lock.
I think Omark’s the odd man out while Cogliano’s still here… I’m not advocating the Cogilano trade, but I think that’s how this plays out.
First callup if Cogs gets sent.
I think guys like that need time to wind up… they need lots of ice time. He’s been battling from the bottom six, and that just isn’t enough for him to be spectacular. He’s looked good, but not spectacular mainly because of that, I think. But I suspect you are right.
Honestly, this is a bit bold and early of a statement, but Paajarvi seems leaps and bounds ahead of the Hemsky curve. OK, I’m getting way ahead of myself.. lol
Feels good, though, doesn’t it?
Did I just see Hemsky lower a shoulder to give a hit!? WTF…
It’s like I’m taking crazy pills or something.
Ok, I gotta be up early, i’m done for tonight!
Gotta see what Tambo has to say during the intermission.
Giddy like a school girl lol. You’re not alone Racki, that dude is mint!
I don’t think Omark will make the team out of camp, but he has shown glimpses of brilliance. He’s on a line with Big Mac and Pitlick so I can cut him some slack. He a nice quick release on his shot though.
Mr. M: Yah, for me, what I’ve seen so far is he is a good battler, for a guy his size, which shows he wants to be here. He has good puckhandling skills that can freeze d-men. But really, it’s been tough for him to get momentum going because he’s been playing from the bottom lines. I think there is an outside chance he makes the team and plays in the bottom six… that’s kinda what it seems like Renney is doing.. seeing how effective he can be there. If he can show that he can be effective with low minutes on a bottom line, he’ll stay. Otherwise he gets sent down and called up later in the season.
/$0.02
Agreed Mr.M, based on line mates, I can cut some slack for sure.
It would be nice to see him with better linemates, or with a bit of PP time. We’re getting a ton of opportunity to check out the PP tonight anyway.
Yup.. my thoughts exactly.. give this kid some minutes. But I can only assume that he’s being auditioned for a bottom six spot.
Absolutely Omark has hands & strength down low. I see him as a #1 call-up if there is a 3rd line or maybe even 2nd line injury this year.
Where’s the holding call…?
Nice hard drive to the net.
Nice speed and play by Hall to fight his way in
Wow nice power forward move by Hall! JDD looking way more settled in net than Dubnyk.
Nice moves by Omark there.. 1 on 5.. lol
Yeah, john. I agree – JDD looking calm and cool back there… way less rust.
Yah John, I might take back that I thought Doobie was a lock for our backup (although I actually said it was his to lose). He’s making a good case for Deslauriers. lol
Haha Ferraro on Omark’s stick; “His stick could fit in Dustin Penner’s pocket…” Funniest thing I’ve heard from Ray in a long time
YESSSSSS!!!!!! Way to go Hall!!!!!!
Hallsy!
Atta boy, Hallsie!! Nice read for an unassisted hard working goal.
I guess we have to remember that this is the Lightning scraps in the line up, but still good to see our kids playing well.
Hatty!!!!
Shorthanded, no less!!!
Good job, Maggie!!!
HAT TRICK!!!!
Hemsky selfless, like Horcs the other night… tried to set up Hall, when he had a better chance to score, himself.