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CsInMyBlood · 01-08-2015, 11:05 AM

What a game by Backlund. Easy to forget just how poised he is with the puck, zero panic to his game. Can speed the play up, or slow it down. What a great backhand pass to Raymond in that first shift and another beautiful one to Jones in the third that Jones shot wide. Nice to have him back.

Byron also had a strong game, a couple of good hits, 3 takeaways (one where he totally picked Datsyuks pocket - doesn't happen often to Pavel to be sure) and that nice feed to Backlund on the PK for the shorty.

Raymond continues to be frustrating to watch. Great first shift and then beyond meh. Guy has to learn how to use his teammates more, its like he gets tunnel vision and fires shots with no awareness where his linemates might be. When he did pass last night, it was to no one. When he doesn't have the puck he reminds me of Valeri Bure. Just weak, desperately swinging his stick at the puck or man in futile hope.

Certainly not Giordano or Brodies best game, but to be fair they were forced to play almost 28 mins a piece. To me that is ridiculous when you are on the first game of three in four nights. The ice of the D last night:

Gio 27:59
Brodie: 27:39
Russell: 25:51
Wideman: 24:02
Engelland: 8:05
Diaz: 6:24

So obvious our biggest problem is that third pairing. Hartley does not trust them enough to put them on the ice, which puts the first two pairings playing way too many minutes. I also don't think Smid is the answer, but who knows, he may help here. If we do actually make a push and find ourselves in a playoff spot when all is said and done, how much gas will be left in the tank for those top four D-men? We saw this every year we made the playoffs with an overplayed Miikka Kiprusoff.

Pretty physical, fast game. Could have gone either way.

01-08-2015, 11:05 AM	#159
CsInMyBlood Franchise Player Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: F* me. We're so fing good, you check the fing standings? Lets fing go! F**ing practice! Exp:	What a game by Backlund. Easy to forget just how poised he is with the puck, zero panic to his game. Can speed the play up, or slow it down. What a great backhand pass to Raymond in that first shift and another beautiful one to Jones in the third that Jones shot wide. Nice to have him back. Byron also had a strong game, a couple of good hits, 3 takeaways (one where he totally picked Datsyuks pocket - doesn't happen often to Pavel to be sure) and that nice feed to Backlund on the PK for the shorty. Raymond continues to be frustrating to watch. Great first shift and then beyond meh. Guy has to learn how to use his teammates more, its like he gets tunnel vision and fires shots with no awareness where his linemates might be. When he did pass last night, it was to no one. When he doesn't have the puck he reminds me of Valeri Bure. Just weak, desperately swinging his stick at the puck or man in futile hope. Certainly not Giordano or Brodies best game, but to be fair they were forced to play almost 28 mins a piece. To me that is ridiculous when you are on the first game of three in four nights. The ice of the D last night: Gio 27:59 Brodie: 27:39 Russell: 25:51 Wideman: 24:02 Engelland: 8:05 Diaz: 6:24 So obvious our biggest problem is that third pairing. Hartley does not trust them enough to put them on the ice, which puts the first two pairings playing way too many minutes. I also don't think Smid is the answer, but who knows, he may help here. If we do actually make a push and find ourselves in a playoff spot when all is said and done, how much gas will be left in the tank for those top four D-men? We saw this every year we made the playoffs with an overplayed Miikka Kiprusoff. Pretty physical, fast game. Could have gone either way. __________________ Backlund for Selke 2017 2018 Oilers suck.