THE TEAM TODAY

THE TEAM TODAY: Challenges Ahead

Oilers prepare for California, discuss the playoffs & more following a lengthy practice

Sunday, 19.12.2010 / 5:10 PM / The Team Today
By Ryan Dittrick  - edmontonoilers.com
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 19

CHALLENGES AHEAD

OIL SPILLS
VIDEO INTERVIEWS
Ralph Krueger's Thoughts
Taylor Hall, Magnus Paajarvi, Gilbert Brule & Dustin Penner
AUDIO INTERVIEWS
Gilbert Brule
Dustin Penner
Magnus Paajarvi
Taylor Hall
Ralph Krueger
RELATED ITEMS
THE TEAM TODAY: Chemistry Test
HEADLINES
Oilers This Week
Today's media coverage

Following a well deserved off-day Saturday, the Oilers returned to Rexall Place this morning for a lengthy practice that pushed the pace and helped to clear the monotony of a four-day break in between game action.

With two tough assignments ahead on the pre-holiday horizon, the team skated for well over an hour as the coaching staff tinkered with various fundamental systems, including a lengthy portion spent on special teams.

Both the powerplay and penalty kill received equal attention, as the importance of these areas will be put to the ultimate test against two excellent Western Conference clubs.

Although the break in between games came as a blessing, forward Dustin Penner -- who has now recorded 12 points in his last 14 games -- says that the group needs to be cognizant of its collective energy level.

"Maybe what could be challenging is having the four days off in between games when you're so accustomed to playing -- I think it was every other day, pretty much, with it averaging out to be 20 games in 40 nights. Managing those four days off, getting a rest and not getting too rusty is key for us."

Rookie sensation Taylor Hall agreed, and further commented on the team’s play leading up to the break.

"It was a tough stretch, but I think we came out of it pretty good, though. We had a decent record during that time, but it's definitely nice to take some time off, just kind of regenerate and take some time away from the game. "

SHARK SIGHTING

With the Oilers having wrapped up the six-game homestand on a high note, and sporting a 6-3-1 record overall in the team’s last ten contests, the good vibes are rolling along as a visit to the Shark Tank looms.

Players and coaches alike both agree that the California swing will be a pivotal, though equally as challenging test for the young club.

"They're a tough team, especially in their building,” said Hall. "I've heard a lot of things about playing in the Shark Tank and how hard they come out, so it's going to be a tough game for us. But in saying that, this little break should help us get a good couple practices in and we’ll see what we can do. "

Dustin Penner
Penner agreed, and cautioned the skill and killer-instinct of the veteran Sharks as being a prevailing challenge.

"They're playing well. I think when you have other scoring, like secondary and tertiary scoring from those guys (Logan Couture), it takes the pressure off Thornton and Marleau -- and Heatley. They're not the type of guys that take nights off too often, and I think they'll be ready for us. "

Associate Coach Ralph Krueger says that the trip is most certainly a challenge, but that it will be a good test for the team moving forward.

"Especially San Jose right off the bat and following up with our first challenge against Los Angeles. Going into Vancouver -- teams like Vancouver and San Jose have really shown us what we still need to do to be a top team in the NHL. They've played excellent against us, they've had a lot of respect for us in the way that they prepared and the way they came out of the gate. "

"Going into their buildings should make it simpler for us. I think we won't have that need to try and play against them or perform. We can be more patient. We've been an excellent road team, batting .500 on the road gives us some confidence going into those games," Krueger concluded.

THE PLAYOFF HUNT

Following Friday’s practice at Rexall Place, Head Coach Tom Renney surprised many with a bold remark regarding the team’s search for a playoff spot as we approach the midway point of the season:

"It won't surprise me when we make the playoffs. It won't. The biggest surprise of all might be if we don't."

With Edmonton currently sitting 15th in the Western Conference standings, there’s an uphill climb ahead; an eight-point gap and seven teams to overtake are the current realities, but the organization believes in that statement as the Oilers look to embark on a mid-season push.

Associate Coach Ralph Krueger
"I think from day one that Tom (Renney) has made that really clear, in that you want to create an environment where that's expected, where you're going into every game expecting to take points, " said Associate Coach RaIph Krueger. "I think when you raise that expectation, you raise how hard we have to work in practice to match that. "

Krueger commented further on the fact that the team has no excuses with internal expectations set high.

 "We don't have any excuses, really, in our room at all. In the coaches’ room, there's none. We come in after wins and losses looking at how we can get better. It doesn't matter what the score on the board was, and that's just the culture that we want to create here; that it's a constant improving, constant striving to be better, and nothing replaces winning in the game. "

"It's something you want players to stretch for and reach for to meet the challenge."

Forward Gilbert Brule agrees that the bold claim is a realistic expectation.

"We are where we are right now, obviously, in the standings, but we're definitely looking to fight our way back and we're doing better as of late."

"I think you have to look at our last 15 games, we've improved so much compared to the first month-and-a-half of the season. We've come such a long way and we don't want to let that slide at all. We want to stay focused on what we've got to do there, and we've just been playing better team hockey."

INJURY NOTES

Approximately 45-minutes before the rest of the team hit the ice for practice, injured players Ales Hemsky and Jim Vandermeer took to the sheet with Skating and Skills Coach Steve Serdachny. The pair skated for 30-minutes, working on a variety of skating drills to test their respective injuries. There was no official update on their statuses, but both were pushing themselves hard as they look to make a return in the near future.

  Oilers Injury Report


ONE-ON-ONE

In the latest edition of our fan question series, Amelia of Edmonton submitted a question for Jordan Eberle.

 AMELIA: "If you could travel anywhere in the world for a one-week adventure, where would you go, and who would you take?"

Jordan Eberle

JORDAN: "I love tropic places like Mexico or something like that. I'd have to probably go somewhere tropical like that or the Caribbean. I like the blue water and the white sand.

I'd probably take a close friend of mine; someone away from the rink so we wouldn't have to talk hockey on vacation."

Fill out the form on the right to submit a question for one of the Oilers. We will ask one of the submitted questions after the next practice and will post the answer in the next Team Today.

Author: Ryan Dittrick | edmontonoilers.com, with files from Tom Gazzola & Bob Stauffer
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 17

CHEMISTRY TEST

OIL SPILLS
VIDEO INTERVIEWS
Magnus Paajarvi, Nikolai Khabibulin & Dustin Penner comment following practice
Head Coach Tom Renney
AUDIO INTERVIEWS
Magnus Paajarvi
Nikolai Khabibulin
Dustin Penner
Head Coach Tom Renney
RELATED ITEMS
Blue Jackets - Oilers Game Recap
Under the Scope vs. Columbus
HEADLINES
Oilers This Week
Today's media coverage

After Edmonton came away with a decisive and energy-infused 6-3 victory one night ago, the team regrouped at Rexall Place this morning for a lengthy one-hour practice in preparation for the upcoming pre-holiday road trip.

With high spirits abound following the offensive influx, there was still a business-like attitude being showcased as the drills progressed through the session. A series of line rushes, in-zone offensive systems and an ongoing theme of putting shots on goal rounded out an upbeat and overall productive practice.

As Head Coach Tom Renney explained, the ups and downs of an 82-game schedule are expected, but the control over effort should always be considered in the utmost importance.

"We're going to make mistakes and have those games where not a lot goes right, but you can correct an awful lot of that by the second and third effort. That's the one thing that can't get lost this year -- the requisite effort to play hard."

There was one notable absence from this morning’s skate, as defenceman Tom Gilbert did not participate following his strong performance against the Blue Jackets.

There was no word on Gilbert’s status following practice, but the assumption around the rink was that he was taking a maintenance day. As a result, Steve MacIntyre filled on the third defensive pairing alongside Theo Peckham to round out the lines.

There were no other changes to the lines and defensive pairings as the Oilers look to continue working with a winning formula.

SENSATIONAL SWEDES

Last night, rookies and fellow countrymen Linus Omark and Magnus Paajarvi showcased their exceptional skills and chemistry as the pair concluded the night having put up an incredible five points. Magnus Paajarvi, fresh off the excellent outing, says that the familiarity between the two has been a pleasant discovery.

Magnus Paajarvi
"It's hard to say. He's a skilled player and he's a really good passer. I just try to get open with my speed and so far it has been working out pretty well. We've got to just keep working."

"We had a good game last night. Linus (Omark) played good and O'Marra played good, and hopefully we can keep playing together and keep playing some good hockey as well."

Paajarvi and Omark’s ongoing development of chemistry wasn’t an instantly created concoction. As Paajarvi explains, there’s a brief adjustment period for players coming over to a new league.

"I think you have to adjust when you come over [to North America] to be tougher and more gritty, especially in front of the net and in the crease."

"It is kind of different between Swedish and Canadian hockey for sure, but I think that has to do with the rink as well, with the bigger and smaller ice. It's different for sure."

While Head Coach Tom Renney is keen to offer compliments to the skill and execution of his players, he aims to keep an even keel as he believes more can be tapped from the sensational Swedes.

"What I'd like to see Magnus (Paajarvi) do, quite honestly, is start to take the body," said a passionate Renney. "Use his size and strength to access the front of the net, or use his size and strength to get in on the forecheck and start to finish checks on people. I haven't been adamant on him about that with him, but that will come."

"There will come a point in time where he's even more confident in his body to be able to play with that as part of his repertoire, too. That's important. And Linus, as much as you can, he uses his body anyway. That's good on both of those guys because it helps our team again."

KHABI-BRILLIANT

Nikolai Khabibulin
Perhaps lost in the shuffle of a 6-3 offensive showcase is the brilliant performance from netminder Nikolai Khabibulin. The veteran stopped 37 shots in the victory and has now improved to 4-1-1 since his returning from his brief stint on the IR.

"We're starting to play better and it makes it a lot easier on the goalies," Khabibulin said of the recent efforts. "We're doing a better job in front of the net, we're not turning as many pucks over, we're not having as many odd-man rushes. It's all helping."

"When you get a lot of shots, you feel like you're always in the game; and you feel the puck better and see the puck better."

"I think we're starting to play a lot better. It seems we're getting some order in our zone and between the lines, and overall I think it's just been better efforts. Everybody is playing with more confidence now."

Renney was also quick to compliment the superb play from his leader between the pipes.

"What Khabi likes to see is a team that works hard, both ways, and a team that really works hard to recover from mistakes. He's been outstanding that way, because he sees a group of people that are really working hard to improve in front of him. "

"He does everything he can to help us get some wins."

ONE-ON-ONE

In the latest edition of our fan question series, Mary of Edmonton submitted a question for Taylor Hall.

 MARY: "If you could live the life of another Oilers player for a day, who would you choose and why?"

Taylor Hall

TAYLOR: "That's a really tough question! Maybe Ryan (Jones) or Magnus (Paajarvi). They're both pretty relaxed and laid back. They don't get too rattled up about anything, and I think I need to be more like that. It would be a lot of fun being in their shoes, I think."

Fill out the form on the right to submit a question for one of the Oilers. We will ask one of the submitted questions after the next practice and will post the answer in the next Team Today.

Author: Ryan Dittrick | edmontonoilers.com, with files from Tom Gazzola
 
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 16

OILERS vs. BLUE JACKETS:
AT THE MORNING SKATE

OIL SPILLS
PRE-GAME VIDEO
Jack Michaels & Bob Stauffer preview the game
IN FOCUS: Oilers meet Leafs for the second time in two weeks
RAW: Tom Renney pre-game
POST-GAME VIDEO
Watch the highlights
IN FOCUS - Oilers rookies & Head Coach Tom Renney comment following the win
The Other Side: Ethan Moreau, Mike Commodore, Derick Brassard & Head Coach Scott Arniel's post-game comments
RAW: Tom Renney post-game comments
GAME PHOTO GALLERY
Oilers vs. Blue Jackets

The Oilers took to the ice at 10am for their morning skate Thursday, with a few notable changes up front.

After sitting out Tuesday's game vs. Toronto, rookie Ryan O'Marra returns to line-up and will center Magnus Paajarvi and Linus Omark.

"I've got to learn how to speak Swedish pretty quickly here," O'Marra quipped.

"We're going to teach him some words, but you don't have the time to talk in Swedish either way, so it's going to be English for sure," Paajarvi assured.

Head coach Tom Renney likes the look of the rookie threesome.

"It's a combination of people that I think will be able to create some offence," he said. "Ryan O'Marra is a two-way centerman that can be responsible in his own end. You can understand why I would want that, obviously.

"From a creative point of view and attack speed and being tough to handle in the offensive zone, I think [Omark and Paajarvi] can make some things happen."

O'Marra is looking forward to playing with the Swedes.

"It's going to be good," he said. "Paajarvi's got unbelievable speed, his first two strides are incredible, and Linus' creativity is obvious. I'm just going to distribute them the puck and be solid in my zone and be strong positionally and open up ice for them in the offensive zone with some big hits."

On another reconfigured line, Andrew Cogliano will center Dustin Penner and Gilbert Brule.

"I'm very comfortable playing with Pens -- he's a good guy to play with, he's strong, he's big, holds the puck in," Cogliano said. "And Brule, I think he's got such a good shot, he's on the forecheck.

"We're definitely a line that needs to bring some offence with guys like Horc and Hemmer out."

ETHAN RETURNS

The Oilers are the third-youngest team in the NHL, thanks to the addition of five rookies and the departure of a handful of veterans.

One of those vets was Ethan Moreau, and he makes his return to Edmonton tonight. Players and coaches have fond memories of their former captain.

"I had Chopper as a 17-year-old in Japan at the Pacific Cup as a very young player, and I certainly saw a guy that was going to be an NHLer then and an NHLer full of the right DNA when it came to competitiveness, battle level, leadership," Renney said. "To see him play for the Oil as long as he did, to see him wear the C for as long as he did, didn't surprise me at all."

"There are times when change is necessary and I think what we forget about is sometimes that change is really good for the player, a really good thing. I'm not going to say that I disagree with him not being here or not, I think the bottom line is Ethan has a new lease on life, he's an NHL player, he's a leader, he's important to his team, clearly, and good for him. I've got personal history with him and I have a lot of respect for him."

Brule said he became "good friends" with Moreau last season but won't hold back out on the ice.

"It's his first time back here so I'm sure he's going to be full of life tonight and excited to play, but we treat him like any other guy on their team, we just play him hard. We do miss him over here, but he's on the other team now so he's our enemy now."

TAKING ON THE JACKETS

Edmonton will have its hands full with Moreau and the rest of the Jackets tonight. Renney wants to see a spirited yet disciplined effort from his club.

"We have to be disciplined, naturally. We've got to play an assertive game. We cannot play on our heels. I would rather lose going after things and going forward than trying to play tentative," he said.

"I think beyond that we have to make sure that we've got the requisite energy and pace off the bench, out-changing teams. We had a too-many-men penalty the other night because of a brian cramp and that's just not being engaged. And we have to make sure that we are all about that every single time we play."

OILERS 6 - BLUE JACKETS 3

It went back and forth through the first 20 minutes, but thanks to an impressive total team effort -- including an 11-point contribution by five rookies and strong showing from Nikolai Khabibulin between the pipes -- the Oilers soared to a 6-3 win over the Blue Jackets in the remaining 40.

Author: Jen Sharpe | edmontonoilers.com, with files from Tom Gazzola & Bob Stauffer

 


Author: Ryan Dittrick | edmontonoilers.com