Game 25:  Edmtonton Oilers vs. Los Angeles Kings - November 25th, 2009 - Rexall Place - Snet 7:30pm

The Edmonton Oilers (10-11-3) will host the Los Angeles Kings (13-9-2) tonight at Rexall Place.  The LA Kings are hoping to walk into Rexall Place and walk out with 2 points to snap a two-game losing streak.  The Oilers themselves are planning on building some momentum with a second win in a row.  The story of tonight's game will be the battle of each team's big men.  Anze Kopitar is an inch shorter and around 20 lbs lighter than Dustin Penner, but he's currently the league leader in points.  Penner's shown the willingness to carry this team on his sizable back.

With the doldrums of winter already commencing, for Canadian hockey fans, the game itself is more than just a meaningless diversion or fleeting form of entertainment.  Hockey just isn't any game--it's our game.  For those reading this blog, the Edmonton Oilers are our team.

Oilers Fat and Happy - Pat Quinn Quote

The Oilers won the game 4-0. It was an important game for the team to win considering what's facing them in their schedule over the next two weeks.

Edmonton played almost two good periods of hockey and honestly played well enough to win, but chose to let their goalie Jeff Deslauriers bail them out in the third period forcing him to "earn" his shut-out. As Pat Quinn put it, the Oilers got "fat and happy". I'm not sure there is a better way to describe the shape of the Oilers franchise (no pun intended).

Magnus Paajarvi-Svensson – Magnus PS

In astronomy, the magnus effect is likened to the lift force created by an aerofoil.  For the Edmonton Oilers' fans, they’re hoping that their coveted prospect will take flight in the NHL next season.  Already, a number of prospects from Magnus’ draft year are making an impact in the NHL including John Tavares, Ryan O’Reilly, Victor Hedman, and Matt Duchene among others.

The Oilers drafted Magnus in the first round for the 2009 NHL Entry Draft-10th overall.  It’s their highest draft pick since Sam Gagner in 2007.  Many with myself included anticipated Magnus getting picked higher in his draft year.  For a team that collapsed down the stretch and failed to make the playoffs, it was a fine consolation prize.

Right now, there’s three questions for Magnus Paajarvi-Svensson:

1. How has his development tracked this year based on point production?
2. Will he make the Oilers roster next year?
3. If he does, will Mike Comrie still be here wearing his number (91)?

Oilers 4 - Coyotes 0 - No free burrito for Shane Doan

Tonight, the Edmonton Oilers upset the Phoneix Coyotes by a score four to nothing.  Three numbers were the story of this game:  0.1, 1, and 100.  Unlike during the recent loss to Chicago, tonight Shawn Horcoff's tip-in on the powerplay was on the right side of a hundredth of second on the clock.  After hearing about Dwayne Roloson's incredible 58 save night, 36 does sound somewhat tame in comparison.  However, Deslauriers managed to stop the barrage of rubber fired at him for his first career shut-out.  Ales Hemsky reached his 100th goal marker on the night with a slick passing play from Dustin Penner.

Robert Lang - Phoenix Coytotes

Depsite the fact that this is the fifth of five Pay Per View games in November, there might actually be a reason to watch this game. Ok, let me rephrase that. There is a reason to watch the game if you like saying to your friends "you see, I told you so."

The Phoenix Coyotes come into Edmonton as a team that did a lot of things right during the summer depsite some very public messes that surrounded the team. Wayne Gretzky leaving and the blatant joke of an auction and dispute over team ownership allowed the Coyotes to go and grab one of the most underrated coaches in the NHL in Dave Tippet.