The Oilers Are Lazy

I hate to say it but the Oilers may be feeling a bit of pain from the departure of defensive forwards like Reasoner and Stoll. Edmonton’s defensive zone coverage, especially on the back check, is hurting them bad. I do not think that the Oilers will have an issue scoring goals. They just seem to have a huge issue with the penalty kill – which was the Oil’s strength in past years - and are giving up insane chances on the back check with the forwards not doing anything coming the other way. And…they are not hitting. (More on that later though in my pre-game pep talk to the boys.)

The other issue I had last night was Roloson’s crazy rebounds. This is one area that Garon is way better at. It is all fine and dandy to make the first save, but Roli gives up a crazy rebound because he has difficulty with the first shot and then an easy goal for the other team.

I have said this about Roli before – he is only good for the first save! Good goalies, starting goalies, can control the rebound and send it into the corner. Roli is not that kind of a player and I am done with him. That’s it. Last night was too tough to take. The Oilers need to beat teams like the Blue Jackets to stay in the hunt. I do not care if Nash was on fire or whatever. They should have played a way better defensive game when they were up the 2 goals. Instead they forgot to back-check and Roli was giving up 50-foot rebounds and was out of position for the 2nd shot.

MacT just needs to bear down, go with Garon and let it go. The coaching staff also need to preach better defense and have all forwards coming back to help out the defensive zone coverage. They started that the first 4 games but lost it somewhere after that.

Tonight they will not be so lucky to get away with a close game if they play Crosby/Malkin/Satan, and the boys the same way. It will be a 6-2 or 5-1 game if they do that. For the Pens I would play a close-checking game and use the speed of the forwards and wait for power play chances or Penguins’ defensive breakdowns.

Regardless, the Oilers need to turn this part of their game around and MacTavish just needs to ride it out and stick with Garon. If not my prediction of the Oilers finishing 3rd will be an even bigger joke because they will not even make the playoffs. We are early into the season but you watch – if the Oilers lose any more ground in the division that will be it. The teams are just too good and too close this year.

So here is my locker room pep talk to the boys - Enough f%^&ing around and just get it done guys – you have it in you, don’t be lazy! MacT – smarten up the coaching. When CBJ made it 4-3 last night you taken a freakin’ time out and tell the boys to tighten it up. Horcoff, Penner, Cole, Hemsky, Souray – move your damn feet on the power play. You have the talent, you have the big shot, move your damn feet. Souray – great shot but how about hitting the net? You did it in Montreal. Wait for the screen too dude – not right in the guy’s glove! Hemmer – don’t be lazy. You are actually good in the corners. Get in the tough areas and work for your chances. You are not going to score a highlight reel goal every night. The toe drag-cut-in the-middle-thing can only be done by one guy in the league consistently and that is Ovechkin. You cannot do it as good as him and you get stopped by the D-man 9 times out of 10. Get in the corner, dig it out, get it to Horcoff, get Penner standing in front of the net and wait for your rebounds. Gagner – what they hell dude? You too. Last year you cycled the puck down low and dished it out at the last minute to a streaking Nilsson or Cogs. Now you try the Hemsky thing and look for the pretty pass? You ever been in the corner this year? How many hits do you have? I don’t care if you’re small. I’ll tell you how many hits you have – freakin’ 2. But that is not the worst of it. Horc – do you know how many hits you have in 12 games played? You are not going to believe this. You have 1 hit. 1. One son-of-a-bitchin’ hit. Are you kidding me? You should have more than one hit by accident. Moreau and Cole both have 29 hits. You have 1. That is a brutal stat. You need to step it up dude. You need to get in the corners. You are not as skilled as the top-10 forwards in the league. You can’t afford to be a pretty boy. Right now you are not willing to pay the price. I better see a hit out of you vs. the Pens.

That’s it guys. Now get out there, punch a few guys in the mouth, get in the corners, skate fast, work hard, and get a win.