Taylor Hall's run of bad luck

Pro Hockey Talk had a nice post up about Taylor Hall's run of bad luck, and I can agree. As much as I loved Taylor Hall; he was maybe my favorite player to ever watch since the inception of this blog - not the best pound for pound - but my personal favorite, every time he would take several steps forward there would seemingly be something that set him back waiting around the corner.

There were scathing takes in Edmonton in his final days there such as this one:

Hall has proven he’s not captain material, Pinder said. “The biggest awkward part of it in Edmonton is that Connor McDavid should be the captain of that hockey club, but Taylor Hall still struts around like he’s king of the jungle. It’s over. If he was a great leader, he’s have a ‘C’ on his chest and this team wouldn’t be in the basement every year… There seems to be an acceptance of poor result and that is not what you see with some leaders. They don’t allow that to happen. They get mad. They call teammates onto the carpet. And that’s not what Hall does. And he’s the guy that has the biggest value. Trade him for a bloody defenceman that knows how to play defence.”

I really hope to see the Devils get Hall to the playoffs. He strikes me as a guy who could have a remarkable run in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. I am really sad that it didn't work out in Edmonton, and the trade for the blue liner the Oilers got remains one of the most hated I've ever seen go down in sports.

Hall is a likable guy who is still just 25 and forever in front of him. I hope to see him continue to put up big numbers and definitely miss watching him play for the Oilers.

I saw Connor McDavid play live

There's a lot of cool places in this world I haven't been to yet. There's a lot of athletes I'll never see play. But I will live and die knowing I saw Connor McDavid play and score his 13th goal of his career live. Here it was:

Some other notes from the game:

• The head linesman Darren Gibbs got hit with a puck off the stick of Mark Fayne and had to leave the game.
• I caught a Blue Jackets t-shirt. 
• Taylor Hall scored on a powerplay, his 22nd of the season. Connor McDavid on the assist.

• Leon Draisatl had his 17th goal of the season.
• The Oilers gifted three goals back to Columbus within :45 of scoring each of their own. Totally pathetic. 

Halloween Night Heartbreak in the Battle of Alberta (Flames win 5-4)

[Event Summary]

[Cult of Hockey]

It was a weird night, featuring many weird goals. The Oilers once again got behind early because of the poor play of Goalie Cam Talbot; and overcame a 4-2 deficit behind the phenomenal play of Taylor Hall and Leon Draisatl to tie the game 4-4.

The game ended in complete heartbreak when Michael Frolik scored this strange goal from basically behind the net to complete his hat-trick. That happened with nine seconds remaining in the game.

It's a shame, because it wasted an effort from Taylor Hall who scored a goal and had two assists. Connor McDavid's point streak ends at seven games after a goal that he had an assist on was waived off.

It could have been a memorable, special hockey night in Edmonton. Instead, just a frustrating heartbreak that had me turning off the game.

Leon Draisatl had two assists and a goal. He's done some serious damage in two games.

Darnell Nurse's Debut Spoiled by two late goals

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[Cult of Hockey]

Everyone was highly anticipating the debut of Darnell Nurse, and he did not disappoint. In fact, Nurse and Connor McDavid were probably the biggest highlights on the night for the Oilers.

What I'll remember from this game, is Nurse's unbelievable slapshot to give the Oilers the lead on his first career goal; and Connor McDavid's sick stick moves that almost juked Devan Dubnyk out of his skates. Nurse also showed exceptional fire and speed.



McDavid logged his 5th assist of the season on a Taylor Hall goal, Hall's fourth of the season. It seems like McDavid is just scoring every game. This has gone on well over a week now. Hall also added his fourth assist.

There is some talk - and lack of evidence - that this incarnation of the Oilers in 2015-2016 is no better than past iterations. Edmonton is 3-7-0 and has Montreal coming to town off a loss tomorrow night. This is enormous trouble, and the Oilers will need a strong homestand to turn the season around; or it could be another lost year in this final season at Rexall.

McDavid scores his fifth goal on a Friday Night Hockey Night

Connor McDavid logged his fifth goal of the season, and also tallied his third assist. The points are starting to pile up now. It wasn't his prettiest goal; but it counted on the power play.


Mcdavid also logged an assist on this pretty play.

The Oilers lost 7-4. Evgeny Kuznetsov logged a hat trick. Taylor Hall had an assist, and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins had a goal. Rough night for Anders Nielsen. Here are the player grades from the Cult of Hockey blog.

Other hockey things from the day:

1. I picked up EA Sports NHL 16. I am 2-3 with the Oilers so far. McDavid has no goals so far. It's pretty fun. I've played a lot of installments of this game through the years. 
2. Holy shit Canadiens, now 8-0 and absolutely bludgeoned to death the Buffalo Sabres by a score of 7-2. 
3. Jimmy Roberts passed away. 
4. Hockey Day in Canada is Saturday February 6th. The Oilers play at Montreal at 2:00 that day. 
5. Also noticed the Oilers play on New Years eve at Rexall, and on January 2nd at 4:00 ET. 
6. They play on Thanksgiving Eve and Black Friday. 
7. Huge hockey night again tomorrow night; the Blue Jackets are in action with an 0-8-0 record at Coloardo. 
8. I found this DFS Hockey site today. 
9. Spent some time reading about Howard Morenz the other day on a cool site about Hockey Legends. 

That's really all I got for tonight.

Connor McDavid Dominates first Hockey Night in Canada; Oilers win hist first Battle of Alberta 5-2

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[Edmonton Journal] [Cult of Hockey]

Just as some are talking about blowing up the Edmonton Oilers. Maybe the pressure is finally off now. 

Connor McDavid was named the first star on enemy ice in his first Battle of Alberta; how very special. He scored two goals and recorded an assist. He was a really good save away from what would have been his second goal of the night and a hat trick on the night. He has four points now in five games. His first goal was absolutely beautiful. He finished. 

His second goal of the night put it away:



That came after he fed Nail Yakupov for the first assist of his career, a linemate whom we think that he'll turn into a star.

Taylor Hall was the second star, and he played all night like a man possessed. He recorded what went down as the game-winning goal for his 2nd tally of the season. He also recorded two assists, drawing multiple penalties, and skated all over the ice with command, leadership and power.

Scoring was kicked off by Ryan Nugent-Hopkins in the first period. All four first overall picks scored tonight. The OILERS are on Sportscenter right now as I type this. That's the first time in years.

This might go down as McDavid's finest game all season long. It was my first great Connor McDavid memory.

Connor McDavid's Rexall Place Edmonton Debut Takes Place; Oilers to 0-4-0

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[Cult of Hockey]

The orange jerseys were on. The barn was dark. It was a late start from Edmonton. Everything could have been perefect. But the Oilers were flat, and they lost the game 4-2. Once again, Vladimir Tarsenko probably had the goal of the game. 

Taylor Hall played his ass off, like a man possessed. He scored all by himself coming out of a faceoff to cut the lead to 3-2.



Hall took six shots and was +1 on the night, but the Oilers are just playing a flat game right now of mostly dumping the puck down the ice and then skating in circles. Todd Mclellan has not shaped these guys yet.

In five minutes of power play time, Connor Mcdavid failed to record a shot. I was underwhelmed by his game.

Once again, the next game is the big one. Saturday night in Calgary is the Battle of Alberta. It's time to get it going.

Connor McDavid's First Career NHL Goal comes in Dallas

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Jason Spezza's hat trick for the Dallas Stars couldn't spoil what was an absolutely special moment in hockey history, especially for Edmonton Oilers fans.

Connor McDavid recorded the first goal of his career, a deflection that you would see from a ten year veteran that tied the game at 2-2. The Oilers would surrender two goals late including an empty netter to fall to 0-3 on the season, failing to get at least a point before returning home to the Rexall Place barn on Thursday evening for their home opener against the St. Louis Blues.

Anders Nilsson was the other story, stopping 48 shots and peppered all night long in a back-up role. Tyler Seguin logged ten shots by himself.

Taylor Hall was listed as questionable to play with an illness but gutted it out as a non-factor. He had two shots on the night.

The story of the game from an Edmonton standpoint was the play of the Connor McDavid, Nail Yakupov, and Benoit Pouliot line. I think having McDavid on that line will increase the effectiveness of Yakupov. He had a breakaway opportunity in the third period and looked involved all night long; Kari Lehtonen made the save on Yakupov's attempt and things swung quickly in favor of Dallas not long after that.

Yakupov had three shots and an assist on the night, while Pouliot added the same. Each player had two penalty minutes.

Sure, it was another loss. But it was a special moment to be watching when McDavid netted that first one.

The smile says it all. Connor McDavid with the re-direct and his first NHL goal. Hands of gold.

— Pierre LeBrun (@Real_ESPNLeBrun) October 14, 2015

#NHLFirsts: 🚨 - Connor McDavid #NHLFaceOff

— NHL (@NHL) October 14, 2015

Yep, that one's a keeper! 👌 pic.twitter.com/7Hyc67SoFV

— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) October 14, 2015

Game 1, 2015-2016: The Connor McDavid Debut Night is Spoiled

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[Cult of Hockey]

The good news is the Connor McDavid era is officially underway. The bad news is it ended with a loss, a -1 in the +/- column, only two shots, and being stonewalled on a great scoring opportunity by Blues goaltender Brian Elliot.

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins was credited with the opening goal of the night to put the Oilers up 1-0. It was really a fluke goal that was tipped in by a St. Louis Blues player. From there, it was all downhill. 

Vladimir Tarasenko tied the game at 1-1 with this:

I thought Cam Talbot played alright - he stopped 28 of 31 shots and played in a lot of traffic. Taylor Hall had a quiet night, logging just three shots and I can't remember any of them as significant chances.

Rookie Robby Fabbri who was noted as being close friends of McDavid scored the first goal of his career in his first NHL game.

Elliotte Friedman of Hockey Night in Canada says "it's crazy to think the Oilers are a playoff team". For right now, I must beg to differ. They seemed to me like the same old Oilers without any backbone. I think McDavid's scoreless streak could go on a little while as well. He just seemed to be out-muscled out there. 

Taylor Hall with the Funny

Welcome to Edmonton, Connor. Don't mess up everything we've built the last 5 years! #FutureIsBright

— Taylor Hall (@hallsy04) June 26, 2015

And that's that.

Taylor Hall's season likely ended tonight in the Battle of Alberta that Edmonton won 3-1. If so it's another season ended on the injury list for Taylor Hall. And if that's the case, I'll check out for the spring and see you all next fall.

This sucks.

Oilers beat Blue Jackets 3-0

[Cult of Hockey] [Puck Rakers]

[Event Summary] 

Last night was the first night since Taylor Hall got hurt last year in the Derek Dorsett fight that I've gotten to watch the Oilers on cable television. Hall didn't disappoint, scoring the fourth straight game to match his career high goal streak. It was his 27th Geno of the season. 

Devan Dubnyk really helped out my hockey playoff pool, earning a shutout and pulling me even in that category.

Oilers lose another at home 3-2 to Sharks

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The Oilers got down 1-0, and then Ryan Whitney scored pretty much my favorite kind of goal. A top shelf slap shot:



I went to take my puppy outside to pee. When I returned back to the living room, Taylor Hall had scored for the 26th time this season, beating Anti Niemi:

Maybe Taylor Hall's sickest Goal yet

Look at that shot. That's a hockey shot. Hall is up to 24 on the season.

Oilers lose 5-3 to the Habs at home though.

This one was for Gibby

[Cult of Hockey]

[Event Summary]

I watched a pretty good amount of last night's game.The crowd in Winnipeg really seemed to be into this one and things got chippy after the Oilers pulled away 5-2 late in the game.

Here's Taylor Hall's 23rd Geno of the season. He actually talked to the officials after netting it and said that it was Lennart Petrell's goal in the way a good teammate does.



Hall was all over the ice last night, netting the goal, and an assist early in the game to tie the score at 1-1. He was +1 on the evening. He's got 48 points now on the year.

Oilers shut out Flyers 2-0

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[Cult of Hockey]

All was as it should have been last night in Edmonton.

Taylor Hall got the Oilers on the board and up 1-0 with a powerplay goal, his 22nd of the season. Jordan Eberle would later add his 27th in addition to an apple assist on the Hall powerplay goal. Devan Dubnyk shut out one of the highest scoring teams in the NHL. The Oilers proved that they again are a formidable opponent in Edmonton.

I have all along felt that Ales Hemsky is part of the solution in Edmonton, and he was signed to a 2-year contract extension today. 

Oilers win Battle of Alberta in Calgary 6-1

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[Cult of Hockey]

Last night after my 3 mile run, I decided it was time to dedicate the night to some NHL hockey. I had the Red Wings/Blackhawks tilt on my television and the Oilers/Flames going on my computer.

Things started off looking bleak, with Devin Dubnyk giving up an early goal to get down 1-0 to the Flames. Taylor Hall minutes later fed Ales Hemsky on a breakaway that opened up Oilers scoring and they did not look back from there.

It was a banner night from Hall--and I noticed before the game that he was not great in his brief history playing against his hometown team. He had never logged a point and was -6 for his career against Calgary. Things would change on this night. Here's a synopsis of Hall's night from the Edmonton Journal's Cult of Hockey:

Finally played his first game of the season in his home town, and it was a doozer. Set the tone with an early breakaway which, while repelled by Kiprusoff, stated that Oilers had brought their skating legs and were open for business. Led all forwards in ice time just a couple of ticks below twenty minutes, during which time he was personally involved in 10 scoring chances between even strength and powerplay. Made a superb pass to Hemsky on a fast-developing 2-on-1 for the game winner. All 9 of the shots he attempted were on target, and the last of these (barely) beat Flames backup Henrik Karlsson for a well-earned goal that was the cherry on top of a great night’s work.

I'm fighting to get into my fantasy hockey playoffs and there's a week after this one to lock up the 6th and final spot. Last night was a huge night for me, netting tasty results from Jordan Eberle (1 goal, 2 assists, +3) and Dubnyk's win aside from all the saves he tabulated. Of course there was also Hall's nice game.

This was the Oiler's first win in Calgary since 2008--since before I was even really following the sport and the Oilers. It was the first win since the opener of last season, dating back to October of 2010. This was an important win for the franchise and the fan base. And it's on nights like these where you want to hold on to the Smyth's, the Sam Gagner's, and the Hemsky's. It's tough to imagine breaking this team up when they play like this.

Here's Taylor Hall's 21st goal of the season, the first he's ever scored against the Calgary Flames:

Hall nets #20, Oilers lose 4-3 in OT to Maple Leafs

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This one was a late 10:00 PM start time that I would have preferred played on a  Thursday, Friday, or Saturday evening.  As it was, I fell asleep before the third period began and didn't wake up until the Oilers had lost again.

Here's a look at Hallsy's 20th goal of the year. This tied the game at 2-2.

Holy Sam Gagner

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[Cult of Hockey]

It was a downright freakish night for Sam Gagner--and I missed the entire thing.

He became the 11th player in NHL history to collect 8 points in a game. He had FOUR goals and FOUR assists. The Oilers are getting all kinds of national recognition across the domestic United States today and I heard about it on my way into work on ESPN radio. You would figure one of their big three youngsters would be the one to do something like this. Although Taylor Hall and Jordan Eberle played well, Sam Gagner was the whole damn show last night.

The Oilers once again blew out the Chicago Blackhawks. And when things like this happen you realize the Oilers really do have a nucleus and really do have a future. And it's hardly too late for this team to go on an exciting run.

Game Highlight Reel:

Campaigns for the Next 'Faces of the NHL'

Patrick Kane at Deadspin.

Taylor Hall at Our Hometown.

And the news over the All-Star Game Weekend was that Columbus will host the 2013 All Star Game. This blog at this time next year will be getting some major coverage with me dispatching things from front and center to make some memories.

God I hope Taylor Hall is in C-Bus that weekend. It will be neat to have fans from all over Europe and Canada in town to see our city and celebrate hockey.