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INDEPTH: NHL 2006 | After the break
Edmonton Oilers
By Malcolm Kelly, CBC Sports Online | Last updated Feb. 28, 2006
Shawn Horcoff (r) leads the Oilers in scoring this season. The 27-year-old has teamed with Ryan Smyth and Ales Hemsky to give the Oilers their first legitimate scoring line since Doug Weight and Bill Guerin called Edmonton home in 2001.
(AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
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Record: 30-20-8 (68 points)
Eighth in the Western Conference
Fourth in the Northwest Division
Home record: 13-11-4
Away record: 17-9-4
Goals for/against: 192-186
Power play: 17.9 per cent (15th overall)
Penalty kill: 83.2 per cent (13th overall)
Top scorers: Shawn Horcoff (16g, 42a, 58p -- 25th overall in the NHL); Ales Hemsky (15g, 41a, 56p -- 32nd overall); Jarret Stoll (16g, 38a, 54p)
Top defenders: Steve Staios, defence (+10); Jaroslav Spacek, defence (+9); Ethan Moreau (+8)
Key trades: Jaroslav Spacek, defence, acquired from Chicago for Tony Salmelainen, forward (Jan. 26); Dick Tarnstrom, acquired from Pittsburgh for Jani Rita, forward and Cory Cross, defence (Jan. 26); Chris Pronger, defence, acquired from the St. Louis Blues for Eric Brewer, defence, Jeff Woywitka, defence and Doug Lynch, defence (Aug. 3); Michael Peca, forward, acquired from the New York Islanders for Mike York, forward, and a conditional draft pick (Aug. 3)
Season recap: It wasn't a happy October out on the Alberta steppes, where the struggles in Calgary and Edmonton left hockey fans grumpy. But like their southern rivals, the Oilers bounced back, just not quite as far. Five game and four game winning streaks through November, and another five gamer in December led to a 17-8-3 run to take into the New Year.
Since then, Edmonton cooled off to 8-6-6, but still found themselves at the Olympic break hanging on to that eighth and final playoff spot.
While the offence has been fine, and the defence has been fine, the goaltending has left many scratching their heads.
Ty Conklin had problems in the early going )5-5-1, 3.10 gaa), and then was injured. Which gave the job to Jussi Markkanen, who was hot and cold, and thus basically OK. Up from Greenville of the East Coast League comes Michael Morrison, ostensibly to back-up Markkanen. In his first start, he beat Colorado. Then San Jose, Minnesota and Calgary.
Now, Morrison is 10-4-1 with a 2.82 goals against, which seems to say the goaltending problem has been solved. Except he lost his final two starts before the break, giving up 10 goals.
Key injuries: Michael Peca (hip), Marty Reasoner (lung), Jason Smith (toe) are all expected back after the Olympic break. Ethan Moreau, leg, Dick Tarnstrom (respiratory infection) and Igor Ulanov (rib) are out indefinitely.
Looking ahead: The final stretch opens with a question. Does general manager Kevin Lowe trade for an experienced goaltender to help out coach Craig McTavish? Or does he go with what they've got?
That solved, the Oilers can look ahead to a nicely balanced schedule that never sees them home or away for more than four straight. But with only 11 points separating third-best Nashville and San Jose in 11th, you start looking for keys.
Try this one: In a bizarre scheduling quirk, Edmonton plays Vancouver, possibly for a playoff spot, three times in four days (home on March 21, away on March 23 and 25). Sweep or get sweeped and it's a six point swing.
And getting defenceman Smith and centre Peca back right after the break could be enough of a boost to send the Oilers not into the post-season, but in for a fair distance.
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