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Based on the statistical bird-dogs on the NHL, no crew has ever received the Stanley Cup in a season the place that crew misplaced by greater than 4 targets of their opener, so take a deep breath after that 8-1 blowout to Vancouver Wednesday people.
Or not, in case you wave the Edmonton Oiler flag.
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Absolutely you keep in mind the 11-0 demolition in Hartford on Feb. 12, 1984.
The Oilers received their first Cup 3 1/2 months later.
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It was 8-0 for the Whalers after 40 minutes, with Wayne Gretzky damage (knee) and Jari Kurri not taking part in both, and Oilers coach Glen Sather clearing his throat to inform his crew to simply win the third interval, will ya? Fell on deaf ears, when the Whalers scored early with Paul Coffey out for a shift.
“Yeah, I had the puck, made a transfer and the puck caught on the ice. (Ron) Francis over to (Kevin) Dineen and it was 9-0,” stated Coffey, at the moment particular adviser to proprietor Daryl Katz and the hockey ops division.
“We acquired dwelling for two-a-days (practices),” he stated.
“I didn’t need to go to the grocery retailer,” reminisced Charlie Huddy.
The Oilers received eight straight after the humiliation in Hartford and listening to “Brass Bonanza” these 11 instances after one other Whaler aim. “We had an enormous win (5-2) over Boston proper after that,” recalled Coffey.
St. Louis Blues fell 5-1 to Winnipeg in October 2018 of their first recreation of the season, and received their solely Cup eight months later. Should you’re into Oilers historical past, they tumbled 4-1 to Detroit in 1987 of their season opener (Mark Messier for the Oilers with Petr Klima and Steve Yzerman getting two of the Wings’ targets), and received the final Cup with Gretzky in an Oiler jersey on Could 26, 1988.
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HOLDING HIS BREATH
When Dylan Holloway took Tyler Myers’ shot off his left hand halfway by means of the third interval Wednesday in Vancouver, he was involved, however he’ll play Saturday.
“It’s my dangerous wrist the place I’ve had two surgical procedures earlier than and it (shot) caught me proper on the bone,” stated the Oiler winger. “It damage rather a lot however there was no break. Just a bit sore now, nothing that may hold me out.”
Holloway is courageous however perhaps he wants higher shot-blocking approach.
“Yeah, going ahead I’d try to cowl it (hand) just a little bit,” he stated.
ALL HANDS ON DECK
Defenceman Mattias Ekholm (hip flexor) took some drills together with his outdated accomplice Evan Bouchard at Friday’s follow and appears able to play his first recreation after lacking all of coaching camp. Possibly it received’t be with Bouchard, who performed with Darnell Nurse within the opening recreation, however he’ll be one of many six or seven D they gown.
“He wasn’t in any pre-season video games and he’s strolling into his first (regular-season) recreation and we now have to know that. His benefit is the age he’s and the elite thinker he’s. Nobody is aware of himself or the sport higher than Mattias,” stated Oilers coach Jay Woodcroft.
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MOVING CHESS PIECES AROUND
With Oilers defenceman Markus Niemelainen on their opening-night 21-man roster, however damage, happening waivers Friday to get him to Bakersfield, they predictably signed winger Adam Erne to a two-way deal that may pay him $775,000 within the NHL and a assured $300,000 if taking part in within the AHL. This signing was telegraphed for weeks, with Erne more likely to play with Mattias Janmark and Derek Ryan on the fourth line Saturday in the event that they go along with 12 forwards and 6 D, and never 11 and seven.
If Niemelainen clears waivers by Saturday’s midday MDT deadline — a crew like San Jose, with room of their third pair on left D and seeing Niemelainen rather a lot within the AHL’s Pacific Division, may declare him — then he’ll be a part of Phil Kemp, Ben Gleason and Cam Dineen within the prime 4 on the Condors’ blueline. In addition they have rookie Max Wanner, Noel Hoefenmayer, Xavier Bernard and Alex Peters.
A LITTLE LUMBER MUSIC
Oilers centre Leon Draisaitl slashed Ian Cole on the calf Wednesday and likewise acquired a cross-checking name on Elias Pettersson within the 8-1 loss.
When requested if this was Draisaitl attempting to make room for himself, he stated no.
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“Clearly, frustration kicked in a bit final recreation. I took a few pointless penalties. I’m a human being. I don’t like shedding. It’s not like that is the primary time I’ve ever smacked somebody,” he stated.
This ‘n’ that: Dani Rylan, the founder and former commissioner of the Nationwide Ladies’s (Professional) Hockey League, who was employed Thursday to be an Oiler professional scout, will work the New York space. She’s a novice with an NHL membership, however Rylan, who was born in Tampa the place her dad labored in advertising for the Lightning and was as soon as the one lady on the Jr. Tampa Lightning crew and later went on to be captain at Northeastern College, may use the scouting as a stepping stone … The Oilers trotted out their Heritage Traditional throwback sand-coloured pants and gloves for Friday’s follow to strive them out, an ode to the 1950 Edmonton Mercurys. When requested if he can be attempting out a fedora behind the Oiler bench on Oct. 29, Woodcroft laughed. “I’ve, uh, acquired larger fish to fry (than enthusiastic about haberdashery),” he stated, as he digested the 8-1 pasting within the opener … If the Canucks are attempting to maneuver winger Conor Garland, who scored within the opener, for cap causes, Columbus has further D. Possibly shutdown proper D Andrew Peeke? … Canucks’ Brock Boeser, who had his first four-goal NHL evening in opposition to the Oilers Wednesday, didn’t rating till his twelfth recreation final season. Boeser is certainly one of solely 9 NHLers to attain 4 instances in a crew’s season opener … Canucks fourth-liner Teddy Blueger is out week-to-week with a leg damage however prime 4 D Carson Soucy (knee) was skating for 20 minutes Friday at UBC in a non-contact jersey so he’s making some progress. Winger Ilya Mikheyev (knee rehab) is practising however possible received’t play Saturday … Oilers draft choose Jake Chiasson, who was simply despatched to Fort Wayne (Indiana), may nonetheless play as a 20-year-old within the WHL however the winger is off to their ECHL affiliate.
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