Oilers Rexall comeback vs. Avs falls short

[Box Score]

Hall, Cogliano and Hemsky all got in the net after the Avalanche jumped out to a 3-0 deficit last night to tie the game at 3 all and send it into overtime and an eventual shootout before losing 4-3. So the Oil loses last night despite Taylor Hall's 12th career scoring goal. It's still POINTS! And the first points the Oil have tabulated since I've become a fan of the club.

We're getting pretty close on the 2010 Winter Classic. By the way--awesome Pens blog here Igloo Dreams. I might start doing my Oilers game posts on that format.

Taylor Hall first goal on NHL 11

Last night at the United Center in Chicago, in a 3-0 victory over the World Champion Blackhawks, my franchise player Taylor Hall scored the first goal of his career. He later on in the night added one in Hockeytown at Detroit. He's now got 2 goals and 3 assists in his short career.

I am actually winning a few games now. Four wins and eight losses with several of them being overtime losses. I'll continue to update on my dynasty here. Man, Zdeno Chara is a freaking beast on the game.

Good read about the rebuilding process going on in Edmonton right now in real life NHL in the Edmonton Journal. Actually some mention of Taylor Hall ending up on a PK line or two before the year is out.

And there's a game tonight, the Colorado Avs come to Edmonton for the 36th game of the year.

Sid's point streak ended last night at 25. I think it's better than even money that he starts a new one Saturday at Heinz Field.

If I'm going to be a full-time NHL fan now, I need to learn more about this Alumni Game that I'm reading about around the hockey blogs.

....More to come later tonight in recap or response to the Oilers game. Or if I think of anything before that.

Two Taylor Hall goals that need archived

He actually scored his first career goal in my hometown Columbus, Ohio.



First career game winner above.

I watched a good portion of the Edmonton/Buffalo game tonight on channel surfing. I love how I can basically catch any hockey game I need to somewhere on the internet nowadays. It's one of the truly great things in life.

Edmonton lost 4-2 after fighting hard all night. Read about it if you want. Man it's a great time to be a hockey fan.

Sidney Crosby kept it rolling last night. It's hard to believe but he's playing the best hockey of his career. I'm a big Crosby fan and if you like hockey how can you not love seeing what he's doing right now? It's now been 25 straight games with a point for Crosby.

Learning the Edmonton Oilers

I know the Edmonton Oilers roll with young guns. That's why they appeal to me. I want to root for a shitty team that doesn't have a bunch of bandwagon fans and watch the kids grow up in front of my eyes.

As I try and get my hand around the roster--here's what an Edmonton fan had to tell me today:

First year NHL'ers Taylor Hall and Jordan Eberle are the Oilers best players most nights, this speaks volumes about the rest of the forwards on this team. They need to tank this year as well as moving a body or two out in exchange for picks at the deadline to improve their options this coming June. Two more top five picks could signal the end of the rebuild here 300kms north of the sad sack Suckville Flames.

I think that Bos/Tor pick is available, the Bruins are close, sending them Penner and whatever else they want to help push them over the top this year is a possibility, the Oilers may have to take a player or two back but as long as we get that pick, they could pretty much have anyone of this roster not named Hall, Eberle and perhaps Paajarvi.

Hemsky and Gagner to the Islanders for their first pick this June. The Islanders have along history of knee jerk moves....Hemsky and Gagner could be that ticket to that other top 5 pick.

I'd even do both moves if it were possible, as long as one comes through we should be set with our own pick this coming June as well.

I'll be back to blog about the game against the Sabres tonight. I'm going to try and watch it on Channelsurfing.net.

Re-dedicating myself to HNTB

I just got NHL 11 by EA Sports for Christmas. I've started a franchise with the Oilers and I'm re-dedicating myself to this blog which has thus far been a distant project.

I plan on spending a good part of New Years day immersed in Hockey Night. The Winter Classic takes place early in the day (hard for a college football fan to miss all the bowl games) and the Battle of Alberta takes place at 10 that night with my Oilers taking on the Flames.

But at the center of all this is Taylor Hall. I'm really intrigued by this kid and he's turning me into a bigger hockey fan. Great article here about Hall by Bob Stauffer at the Oilers Official Site.

I think I need to start watching 24/7.

Pens lose 3-2 Opening night to Flyers

[Event Summary]

*Definitely check out Empty Netters for a full recap of Opening Night.



I watched a lot of this game on my computer hoping to see a Penguins victory; but the Penguins begin the season in an 0-1 hole with a nip and tuck loss to the rival Flyers.

-Don't forget that last night was Hockey Night in Canada's opener too.

Hockey season is back!

Tonight the 2010 NHL season opens up with the Pittsburgh Penguins taking on the Philadelphia Flyers.

Predictions from Pro Hockey Talk & ESPN.

I've always loved the NHL season. I know more about the NFL and Major League Baseball, but ever since I was a kid I've had an outside curiosity and fascination with the frozen pond game.

I wish it had the popularity here in the States that it did in Canada. It's a neat sport, with a neat tradition. And I think Hockey players seem like some of the coolest dudes of all of the professional athlete spectrum. It's low-drama outside the rink. It's fun to watch. It's just a great fucking sport.

I'll be back to wrap up the action from the first night of the regular later tonight. I'll also be writing a lot on this blog during the season to keep me busy.

GO PENS.
Keep it locked on Empty Netters (Post Gazette's Pens Blog)