Bonsignore Citizens Brigade: Oilers @ Avalanche

Remember that one goal Robert Nilsson scored this year? I sure hope they extend his contract.

We're better than the Bruins! Well, sort of. Seriously how are the Bruins this streaky/this horrible? I know they've had to deal with some injuries this year, but man. What a fall from grace that is. This is a team that was pegged by many to win the Cup last year, and now they're 2 points out of the playoffs and are 0-6-4 in their last 10. The Oilers on the other hand have a sterling 2-7-1 record to their name. Eat that Beantown!

That has nothing to do with tonight's game, but it was really the only silver lining I could find in this pile of shit. The Oilers played alright for about 40 minutes or so last game, and then proceeded to deploy the "shit the bed" style that they seem to have mastered this season under Pat Quinn and Tom Renney. Who wants to bet that those guys have a suicide pact, and if next season is anywhere near as bad as this one they just end it all? It can't be good on their hearts, especially Quinn.

Anyway an absolutely shitacular effort by JDD let the Wild jump out to a 3-2 lead in the third period, and then a beautiful pass from POS to Martin Havlat or someone sealed the deal as Havlat finished off a textbook give and go with "Letsundress".

It's the same thing we've seen all year. Actually scratch that. It's the same thing we saw for the first month of the season or so, and sadly, it's a step up from what we've seen out of the Oilers for the entire month of January. What I'm talking about is their penchant for playing really well for the first period, and usually the second, and then completely shutting off in the third, regardless if they're leading or not. But like I said it's a nice change of pace to see them playing well for an entire period.

The Oilers walk into the Pepsi Center in Denver tonight to take on the Avs, who, against all conceivable science and logic, are 6th in the Western Conference and 2nd in the Northwest. Wha? You're telling me they are icing a team who's combined age is like 76 and they're having insane success? They only have 11 guys on their roster over the age of 25. And a few of them are hurt so it's more like 8 guys on their active roster right now. Combine that with the inexplicably stellar play of Craig Anderson (who?) and we've got ourselves a "Perfect Storm" scenario. Everything just seems to be falling in line for the Avs. Where as on the other side of the coin the Oilers have been trying to jam a square peg into an obtuse triangle shaped hole, and contrary to popular opinion, it's not working.

I have something to confess real quick. From 1995 to about 2001 I was a staunch Colorado Avalanche supporter *waits 9 minutes for the gasps to subside* Yes friends, when I was but a wee lad I had to be "that guy". The one kid who refused to cheer for the Oilers like everyone else in my school. So I guess you could say I've been an annoying asshole most of my life. What about those lost years, 1993-1995, you ask? I was, ahem, a "Mighty Duck" fan....

Whatever I was 7 years old, the first movie was probably the greatest thing I had seen at the time, and they were the hot new franchise. Get off my back! And besides it's not like I made a shitty choice with either team really. Paul Kariya was awesome to watch back then, and then when I jumped ship to the Avs they won a fucking Stanley Cup in their first season. How could I go wrong? And it's not like I picked a horrible time to not cheer for my hometown team. Remind me again what happened between '93 and 2001? Some of the darkest days in Oilers franchise history? Not that I missed any of the good moments during those years mind you. I remember watching the Cujo save/Marchant OT goal in my friend Joel's basement and that memory is still pretty vivid. I just didn't have a vested interest in the Oilers at the time.

But don't fret my friends. Just because I was jumping ships left and right like I was pillaging them when I was younger does not mean I'm going to be evacuating the good ship Oiler anytime soon. I started to smarten up in high school and finally fulfilled my destiny of becoming the greatest Oiler fan of all time*! I will continue to cheer for them during the dizzying highs (I.E 2006 Cup run) and the soul crushing lows (right now). And tonight, in my honor, I expect the Oilers to go out and run a train on these Avalanche a-holes! Remember when Sam "Great White Hope" Gagner scored his first career hat trick last year in Denver? In that hilarious 8-1 drubbing of the Avs? I'm smelling a repeat! But fuck 8 goals, let's double it! 16-1 boys! 16 TO FUCKING 1! I mean this Avs team is just a fluke right? They have to come crashing back down to earth sometime, and tonight is the night!

jeanshorts prediction: Oilers 16 - Avs 1

TylerSeguin

IQWT

-jeanshorts


*not really.