gr8one: almost nailed it. Good one!

I was pretty close too!! other than the shootout.

hemmerlady:

Well maybe the $64 million sieve will continue to suck, i.e. f_ck up my pool.

HL predicts: narrow 4-3 shootout victory for the Oil, replete with Louie choking.

yeah, mofos, I’m taking some hits for the team here by having Lu stink it up on my team. It’s more satisfying to watch him get pulled from a game and have a tantrum than to beat Racki this week though.

The puck support has been great to see, and the lines are gelling quicker than I had even hoped. Gagner and Magnus are struggling a bit but they will come on line I’m sure.

Really impressed with our Defencemen, who pundits basically predicted would be the anchor that drags our promising team out of contention. Also if Khabi can play like this all year I will take back every bad thing I ever said about him… Which is a lot.

Hard to find things to complain about when we are winning. It doesn’t get better than watching Bobby-Lou(ser) getting chased and making the skate of shame to the bench.

Hall – 5.63
RNH – 4.22
Eberle – 5.23

Smyth – 7.07
Horcoff – 7.05
Jones – 6.63

Paajarvi – 1.4 (3 shifts – benched for 2nd half of 3rd period)
Belanger – 6.18
Gagner – 1.05 (2 shifts – benched for 2nd half of 3rd period)

Petrell – 5.86
Lander – 5.18
Eager – 0.63 (2 shifts – benched for 2nd half of 3rd period)

Still a bit of a bias towards the vet line of Smyth-Horcoff-Jones, but it looks like the confidence in the kid line grew a bit with Renney too. In the last couple of minutes though, his work horses were the vet line and Petrell-Belanger-Lander. But this is an improvement over the complaints people had with Renney not giving these young kids opportunity to pad a lead.

BTW, as far as puck support, no line demonstrates this better than the kid line, imho.. but I’ve noticed it too Ktown.

NorwegianOiler: Yes, Smid is bringing the board play battling to another level. Potter’s making an impression too.

We have begun to develop a serious team game though, had a forecheck going tonight, good neutral zone play and some nice offensive cycling. What a delight it is to watch the skill of our young ‘top line’.

Agreed on Potter.

One thing I’m noticing this year is the puck support. That’s been seriously missing in the last few seasons.

It seems this year, if a guy loses the puck, or turns it over, there’s always somebody there to pick it up or get in on the check. As well, no matter the situation, there always seems to be an outlet pass. Guys are just looking like they finally ‘get it’ this year, and the result so far is the benefit of seeing some good hockey being played.

The other thing I’m noticing is the heart and effort – Ladi Smid (poster child for this movement – I’ll be pumping his tires this season). It’s like the puck is glued to Ladi’s shins, or chest or back of his ass… He’s down blocking everything!

Then you see guys mucking in the corners fighting for pucks (Jonesy!!!) and it just makes everybody else out there want to play harder. I love it.

Ktown:
Another good game by the boys. Smid is really turning into a solid d-man.

Belanger might not be scoring but he’s worth every penny for what he brings to each game.

And, sorry to say, I won’t be on the POTFgamenight chat for awhile. That’s a two gamer without – like they say in Bull Durham “you never mess with a streak. ”

Yes, Smid is bringing the board play battling to another level. Potter’s making an impression too.

We have begun to develop a serious team game though, had a forecheck going tonight, good neutral zone play and some nice offensive cycling. What a delight it is to watch the skill of our young ‘top line’.