wingoilerfan

Okay, I'll predict a 3-3 tie ... I wish!! :lol:

Unfortunately, I don't think it'll end in a tie. I have a hunch that the Wings will be very angry after that awful debacle against the Washington Capitals and will end up troucning the next team they face, which, unfortunately, are the Oilers tonight.

My prediction: Oilers 2, Wings 5

*Disclaimer: I am not predicting this because I'm also a Wing fan (and if the Oilers prove me wrong, I will post this disclaimer 10 times on a post on the Oiler board tomorrow right after my game recap ).

I'm actually torn between these two teams whenever they meet ... which is why I hope they don't meet in the playoffs.

__________________
"If you're going to lose, lose with enthusiasm." -- former Edmonton Oilers coach Ron Low

Let's go Red Wings!
Long live the Oilers!

slapshot™

Both teams sorely need a win. The Wings (5th) come into the game one point ahead of Edmonton (6th) in the Western Conference. The Wings are 7th in the League with goals for and the Oil are 6th. Unfortunately for the Oil they are 28th in the League for goals against while the Wings are a "respectable" k: 17th spot in this category. Speaking of scoring ability, that is one of the brighter Oiler highlights going into tonight's game.

Wings top point-getters:
Brett Hull - 9G, 10A = 19 points
Steve Yzerman - 9G, 7A = 16 points
Pavel Datsyuk - 8G, 8A = 16 points

Oilers top point-getters:
Mike York - 6G, 11A = 17 points
Ales Hemskey - 5G, 11A = 16 points
Raffi Torres - 8G, 6A = 14 points

The most glaring stat for the Oil is their special teams and that could have an impact with tonight's matchup with the Wings:

Wings PP is 3rd in the League whereas the Oil PK is 30th. Conversely, the Oil's PP is 24th and the Wing's PK is 20th.

There is a log-jam happening in the Western Conference. 5th spot (24 points) to 10th spot (20 points) only has a 4 point spread.

I haven't heard who will be playing goal for either team. Will it be a Conklin vs. Legace matchup, tonight?

Magic 8-ball says the Oil win by one goal.

wingoilerfan

"Unfortunately for the Oil they are 28th in the League for goals against while the Wings are a "respectable" k: 17th spot in this category."

Regardless of whether I'm cheering for the Wings tonight, the Oilers, or both, all I can say is ... D'OH!!

The two teams are also eerily close to one another in terms of winning percentage, as well.

"I haven't heard who will be playing goal for either team. Will it be a Conklin vs. Legace matchup, tonight?"

I haven't, either. My guess is that Legace will get the start, since Cujo didn't have too good a showing in the last game (although I don't think it was all his fault ... but in Detroit, the two toughest occupations are quarterback for the Lions and goalie for the Wings :lol: ).

__________________
"If you're going to lose, lose with enthusiasm." -- former Edmonton Oilers coach Ron Low

Let's go Red Wings!
Long live the Oilers!

bigbigjim

I have a feeling Edmonton will take it. The Wings have the advantage with the Oil having played last night but Goatending continues to be a concern in Hockeytown where as Conklin has been solid. I'll go with 4-3 Oilers.

__________________
The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want

hockeykid11

I tink the Oilers will take this one, 4-3 OT. Conklin is very solid right now as the Wings goaltending is not. And don't forget Oates may be in the lineup. If so the lienup will be like this:

Smyth-Oates-Hemsky
Torres-York-Dvorak
Moreau-Stoll-Pisani
Isbister-Horcoff-Laraque

bigbigjim

This was certainly a large portion of the difference tonight. It got ugly in the 3rd but if Edmonton had been a little better on the kills it could have been a better game. The Oil lacked energy coming off the game last night in Columbus.

Doesn't matter though, it only counts for 2 points in the standings.

__________________
The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want

Jackskelington

omg...i watched the game tonight...

detroit's pp is unbelievable. they looked so damned calm tonight.

oilers looked like they were completely exhausted...macT looked so beaten and discusted.

man, it's not often that i say this...but i really felt bad for edmonton tonight.

slapshot™

Wow. If you're gonna lose...lose with enthusiasim???? :roll:

wingoilerfan

Yeah, it worked about as well as your magic 8-ball k: ... which the Oilers were unfortunately behind last night. :?

By the way ... I've been posting that quote from Ron Low ever since I began posting on message boards 3 years ago. It's my favorite quote. Unfortunately, the Oilers didn't follow that advice last night ...

Former Oiler coach Ron Low said that to his Oiler team before a game against the Calgary Flames on Nov. 15, 1997. The Oilers were struggling with injuries and had to call up a bunch of rookies. They managed to squeak out a 1-1 tie vs the Flames ...

I always liked Low when he was coaching the Oilers ... I'm probably about the only person here that does.

__________________
"If you're going to lose, lose with enthusiasm." -- former Edmonton Oilers coach Ron Low

Let's go Red Wings!
Long live the Oilers!