THE TEAM TODAY: Petrell on Patrol
Oilers' struggles in Minny & Petrell's lineup addition topics du jour at practice
Wednesday, 12.10.2011 / 4:30 PM
/ The Team Today
By Ryan Dittrick
- edmontonoilers.com
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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 12BEFORE THE ROAD TRIPOIL SPILLS
Rather than pushing the pace with high-speed, up-and-down line rushes, Head Coach Tom Renney approached the session with calculated drills intended to help counter the Wild’s repressive style. It’s a good thing, too, because the Oilers are still sporting a losing streak like no other; coming out un-victorious in 16 straight contests in the land of 10,000 lakes, with the team’s last win coming on Jan. 16, 2007 by a 2-1 score. EXCELLING AT XCEL "We always approach it like we're going to go in there and win," Renney remarked. "I don't think we place as much weight on this thing as [the media does]. It's not like it's a heavy load or a cross to bear. It's another hockey game in a building where we've had limited success." When asked about whether or not the streak was by coincidence or some other matter, Renney was mum but highly-assured with his club’s preparation. "I don't know," he said. "That's a good question and I wish I had an answer. I'm really not that concerned about it. I'm concerned about winning every time I go to the rink. "We prepare exactly the same way. I think our intensity, preparation and readiness is as good as anybody's in the league." It depends on how you look at it, I suppose. The team may be on a 16-game winless skid in the regular season, but did come out on top vs. the Wild at the Xcel Energy Center only 12 days ago in a pre-season matchup. Buoyed by victory, exhibition or not, Ryan Jones has put plenty into the club’s pre-season success in St. Paul. "It always seem like there's added stress going in there when you haven't won in a while," said the 27-year-old winger, who's been moved up to play with Shawn Horcoff and Magnus Paajarvi on the team's third line. "Even though it was a pre-season game, it’s good knowing you can win in there. "It's still a win and we're on a high going in there right now." PETRELL ON PATROL With Linus Omark donning the non-contact, baby blue sweater at practice, expect to see Lennart Petrell draw in vs. Minnesota. The 27-year-old Finn missed Sunday’s action as a healthy scratch, but is understandably thrilled to embark on a new opportunity. "I'm really excited," he said, smiling. "I was nervous before the last game and I didn’t even play – but I think it helped me prepare and match tomorrow's preparation. It’s like I’m ready for my first NHL game already, even though it didn’t happen. It’s good. "It's not disappointing," he added when asked about sitting out vs. Pittsburgh. "It's something you get used to in this business. There are always last-minute changes and you never know. Everybody has to be prepared to play – and we've got some extra guys, so we know two guys aren't playing every night. "It's not disappointment. It's something you've got to learn to live with and it gives me extra energy for tomorrow's game against Minnesota. I'm really happy." Petrell is slated to skate on the right wing, opposite Darcy Hordichuk and with Anton Lander down the middle on the team’s fourth line. According to Renney, it's "a job description right up [Petrell’s] alley." "We've played him enough in the exhibition games to know what he can bring to us," he said. "All things being equal, he will start tomorrow night. I'll rest on that and make a decision in the morning, but I anticipate he'll play. "He has the wherewithal to know what's going on around him as he plays that exuberant game, because sometimes you can get lost out there and not accomplish a whole lot, but he does. He's got a good physical presence to him, he goes to the net hard, he's an honest two-way guy and he's a very good penalty-killer." It’s still to be determined whether Omark has been diagnosed with a leg injury or is a simple strike-through on the coach’s lineup card. Either way, Petrell will be looking to show what he’s got in the Swede’s place. "I don't think I have to do anything special," he explained. I need to be energized, be good up the ice and in my own end. That's probably what [the coaches] expect and that's what I’m going to do." PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT Sunday’s win was an emotional 60-minute clash, but as the players admitted, it sure as heck wasn’t a Picasso. "We've had a lot of good practices and I think they've helped us out," Ryan Nugent-Hopkins said. "We've been working on some systems. "We know that [Minnesota] will come hard at us. They're a hard-working team and they like to put pressure on us and, even on the power-play, they'll send two guys down on the ice on the PK. "We need to be ready." Renney is equally as determined to right some early-season struggles, but is more concerned with rolling with emotion and capturing another victory while his squad bonds on the road. "It's critical to get our wins on the road," he said. "With being the visiting team, you don't have any control over some things to the degree that you want, and I think that's a good thing because you have to have the resolve to push through those things. "That can be very galvanizing for a team and we're looking forward to that." ODDS AND ENDS: Ben Eager, Sam Gagner and Ryan Whitney all skated today. Whitney continued to wear the regular white sweater, but Eager and Gagner rolled with the baby blues. Regardless, all will remain at home while the team embarks on this quick, one-game roadie. -- Follow me on Twitter | @ryandittrick |
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 11BACK TO WORKOIL SPILLS
Concerns with the number of turnovers they committed in their first game were addressed, but overall the team was still buzzing with a lot of positive energy as they look to ride their momentum into Thursday night's road game against the Northwest Division rival Minnesota Wild. On Cloud Nine-ty Three One of the heroes from Sunday's season opening victory was rookie centre Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, who tallied his first NHL goal in his first NHL game to knot the score at 1-1 with just 4:55 left in the third period, forcing overtime and the eventual shootout. The 18-year-old 2011 first-overall draft pick said he's still riding the wave of opening night but is focused on continuing to contribute as the season continues this week. "It definitely was exciting and I enjoyed the win that night, but you've got to move on and I'll take the same approach on Thursday," said Nugent-Hopkins, who received a deafening ovation from the Rexall Place faithful following his pivotal goal. "It was pretty nice seeing all the support and congratulations I got. It's pretty incredible how loud it was." Eager For Action One player who didn't get a chance to compete in the season opener on Sunday was power forward Ben Eager. The off-season free-agent acquisition has been sidelined since the Joey Moss Cup intrasquad game on Sept. 18 when he suffered a concussion and whiplash on a body-check into the end boards from defenceman Kirill Tulupov, who has since been assigned to the Oklahoma City Barons of the AHL. The 6-foot-2, 240-pound left-winger has been cleared to participate in full practice and will travel with the team for their one-off road game against the Minnesota Wild on Thursday. The 27-year-old Ottawa native said he's feeling good and can't wait to get back in the lineup, though it's still be to determined whether he'll be ready to return against the Wild. "The last week or so I've been pushing pretty hard, and I'm starting to get my legs back and get back into game shape," Eager said. "There's been no (post-concussion) symptoms, so it's been nice. I haven't been cleared to play in a game yet, but hopefully that's not too far away. A few more practices, probably." Chorney Claimed By Blues On Monday, the Oilers placed defenceman Taylor Chorney on waivers for the purpose of assignment to Oklahoma City, but the 24-year-old is now headed to St. Louis after the Blues claimed him off the wire early Tuesday morning. The Thunder Bay native played 56 games with the Oilers over the past three seasons, scoring one goal and six assists with 16 penalty minutes. He spent the majority of his time in the organization with the Springfield Falcons and Barons AHL affiliate squads, tallying 50 points in 146 games. Head Coach Tom Renney replied "not really" when asked if he was surprised to see the North Dakota alum claimed. The bench boss also said he would "have that discussion" with General Manager Steve Tambellini should the Oilers have an opportunity to re-acquire Chorney in the future. "I was hoping (he didn't get claimed) because I think he's a good player and we needed to get him playing, but I wasn't sure exactly when that was going to happen here," the coach said. "We were hoping to get him down to Oklahoma City to get him playing. If we get another crack at him — great." Fellow up-and-coming defenceman Jeff Petry said it's tough to bid farewell to a teammate and friend, but he ultimately wishes Chorney the best of luck in St. Louis. "I played with him last year in OKC and got to know him even more this year," Petry said. "You never like to see a teammate go, but it's a good situation for him to move on and get a chance with the Blues. It's part of the game and you've got to go with it." No Hordichuk-MacIntyre Mash-Up There could have been even more fireworks during Sunday's season opener had Oilers tough guy Darcy Hordichuk gotten the chance to drop the gloves with former Oilers enforcer Steve MacIntyre, who was acquired by the Penguins during the off-season. But with both players receiving limited ice time in the tight game, the showdown never played out. "There's no doubt (it would have happened)," Hordichuk said. "He was already chirping on the bench. Pretty much every game you get into when the other team has a tough guy, if he's willing to go, I'm always willing to go. There was a couple times where I thought I was going to get on the ice with him, but we never got that chance to match up. I was just trying to get my feet moving out there and do what I do best, which is throw the body around." The Saskatchewan natives first encountered each other in the WHL when they were trying out for the Saskatoon Blades in 1998. Hordichuk said they fought three times during training camp and then had a few more scraps when MacIntyre was traded to the Prince Albert Raiders. -- Ryan Frankson, edmontonoilers.com |
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 9OILERS vs. PENGUINS
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