Edmonton Hockey Disasters
Oilers battle unexpected obstacle
ALLAN MAKI
Globe and Mail Update
Edmonton — They're dealing with a pair of significant crisis here in the heartland of hockey. The first has to do with beer. There's not enough of it for the Edmonton Oilers' hollow-legged fans.
The second has to do with the health of the Oilers.
Heading into tonight's Game 3 of the Western Conference final, the Oilers are once again battling a nasty 'flu bug that is proving a lot more difficult to shake than the Anaheim Mighty Ducks.
At today's morning skate, several Oilers were absent or told not to practice. Edmonton head coach Craig MacTavish wouldn't do an exact body count for the media and instead tried to put a positive spin on the situation.
"Raffi Torres is doubtful again (he missed Game 2 in Anaheim) and we've got a few other guys who aren't feeling that well," said MacTavish. "We're doing a little stickhandling here … There's a lot better timing for it than right now but we'll deal with it."
Defenceman Marc-Andre Bergeron also missed Game 2 against the Ducks while captain Jason Smith played and played well. Others believed to be under the influence of influenza are forwards Ethan Moreau and Sergei Samsonov, both of whom did not skate today.
Despite their health woes, the Oilers have built a 2-0 series lead and have had their way with the Ducks. To correct that, Anaheim head coach Randy Carlyle said his team would have to be better in a lot of areas, and that includes being more physical against a sickly rival.
"I don't know if it's from being the 'flu," Carlyle said. "Maybe it's their injuries. In the playoffs, you know how it is? It's either an upper-body injury or an upper-body injury."
The Oilers insisted there's actually been an encouraging development to their health problems. With so many regulars out, the back-ups have been able to step in and produce. That has highlighted the team's depth.
"We've used Dick Tarnstrom (on defence). We have Igor Ulanov and Brad Winchester and Dvo (Radek Dvorak) is getting closer to being ready," said MacTavish. "He's a possibility of going in. We've got some depth. I don't think it'll hurt us on the night."
The Ducks haven't won at Rexall Place since 1999. They'll need a stronger offensive showing to shake Edmonton's defence and rattle goaltender Dwayne Roloson. As Carlyle explained, "We need a more determined effort. The will to get there has to go up and there's no time like the present."
Underlining the Ducks scoring troubles is this simple statistic: through two games, Roloson has more points (two) than Anaheim's Teemu Selanne (one).
As for beer crisis, bar owners on Whyte Ave., the city's party strip, are saying they're running dangerously low. Oiler fans have consumed so much alcohol that the bar owners have sent out emergency keg requests.
And when it's dubbed an emergency keg request, you know it has to be serious.
ALLAN MAKI
Globe and Mail Update
Edmonton — They're dealing with a pair of significant crisis here in the heartland of hockey. The first has to do with beer. There's not enough of it for the Edmonton Oilers' hollow-legged fans.
The second has to do with the health of the Oilers.
Heading into tonight's Game 3 of the Western Conference final, the Oilers are once again battling a nasty 'flu bug that is proving a lot more difficult to shake than the Anaheim Mighty Ducks.
At today's morning skate, several Oilers were absent or told not to practice. Edmonton head coach Craig MacTavish wouldn't do an exact body count for the media and instead tried to put a positive spin on the situation.
"Raffi Torres is doubtful again (he missed Game 2 in Anaheim) and we've got a few other guys who aren't feeling that well," said MacTavish. "We're doing a little stickhandling here … There's a lot better timing for it than right now but we'll deal with it."
Defenceman Marc-Andre Bergeron also missed Game 2 against the Ducks while captain Jason Smith played and played well. Others believed to be under the influence of influenza are forwards Ethan Moreau and Sergei Samsonov, both of whom did not skate today.
Despite their health woes, the Oilers have built a 2-0 series lead and have had their way with the Ducks. To correct that, Anaheim head coach Randy Carlyle said his team would have to be better in a lot of areas, and that includes being more physical against a sickly rival.
"I don't know if it's from being the 'flu," Carlyle said. "Maybe it's their injuries. In the playoffs, you know how it is? It's either an upper-body injury or an upper-body injury."
The Oilers insisted there's actually been an encouraging development to their health problems. With so many regulars out, the back-ups have been able to step in and produce. That has highlighted the team's depth.
"We've used Dick Tarnstrom (on defence). We have Igor Ulanov and Brad Winchester and Dvo (Radek Dvorak) is getting closer to being ready," said MacTavish. "He's a possibility of going in. We've got some depth. I don't think it'll hurt us on the night."
The Ducks haven't won at Rexall Place since 1999. They'll need a stronger offensive showing to shake Edmonton's defence and rattle goaltender Dwayne Roloson. As Carlyle explained, "We need a more determined effort. The will to get there has to go up and there's no time like the present."
Underlining the Ducks scoring troubles is this simple statistic: through two games, Roloson has more points (two) than Anaheim's Teemu Selanne (one).
As for beer crisis, bar owners on Whyte Ave., the city's party strip, are saying they're running dangerously low. Oiler fans have consumed so much alcohol that the bar owners have sent out emergency keg requests.
And when it's dubbed an emergency keg request, you know it has to be serious.
posted by Tommie Closson at 9:28 AM
Click here
<< Home