Saturday, January 12, 2013

Cheek scores in debut as Oil Kings dismantle Hurricanes


Trade deadline pick-up Trevor Cheek wasted little time making an impression on his new teammates, scoring in his Oil Kings debut and back-up netminder Tristan Jarry continued his stellar season, stopping all twenty-three shots fired his way. 

Friday, January 11, 2013

Oilers Player Preview: Time for Hemsky to turn it up a notch or two




For many a year, Ales Hemsky was the Edmonton Oilers best player and more often than not, it was by a very wider margin. That is no longer the case in this neck of the woods but that in no way shape or form diminishes the importance of Hemsky's presence in the here and now.

Oilers Player Preview: Khabibulin will still play a major role in shortened season


Heading into his seventeenth season as a National Hockey League netminder, Nikolai Khabibulin will be faced with taking on a role that will seem somewhat foreign to him. After being the number one guy for much of his sixteen year career, the veteran puckstopper will  be playing second fiddle in Edmonton, behind Devan Dubnyk.

Thursday, January 10, 2013

One way or the other, Luongo is the reason Burke was dumped by the Maple Leafs



In his four seasons at the helm of the Toronto Maple Leafs franchise, Brian Burke did more than enough to see himself being dismissed as the club's General Manager. Yet one has to wonder why the organization chose to relieve him of his duties, only days before the start of an abbreviated 2013 NHL season, in favour of his right-hand man, Dave Nonis.

Wednesday, January 09, 2013

Oil Kings let one slip away in Kootenay


Having won their last four outings and nine of the previous ten games, it looked as like the Edmonton Oil Kings would have an easy go of it on Tuesday night, as they paid a visit to the Kootenay Ice. Unfortunately for Derek Laxdal's crew, no one let the Central Division cellar dwellers in on the plan, as the Ice edged the Oil Kings 2-1, in Western Hockey League action.

Tuesday, January 08, 2013

Oilers Player Preview: Gagner needs a huge season to remain in Orange and Blue


After putting together a three period stretch that rivaled some of Wayne Gretzky's most prolific moments in an Edmonton Oilers jersey, many felt Sam Gagner was on the verge of taking his game to the next level. Unfortunately for the talented centre, that step has yet to occur and though he is still only twenty-three years of age, Gagner may be on his last legs in Orange and Blue silks.  

Monday, January 07, 2013

Oilers Player Preview: Eberle on the verge of becoming NHL's next elite sniper


Following what was a superb sophomore campaign from Edmonton Oilers forward Jordan Eberle, some were wondering if the twenty-two year old had perhaps hit his peak, with his thirty-four goal, seventy-six point campaign during the 2011-2012 season.

Sunday, January 06, 2013

Oilers will be in tough, even with an abbreviated NHL schedule


After one hundred and thirteen days, the National Hockey League and NHLPA finally came to their senses on Sunday morning and put an end to what was arguably the dumbest work stoppage in sports history. While it is absolutely mind-boggling to think this agreement took this long to reach, at the end of the day, the start of the 2013 NHL season is only days away from getting under way.