Powerplay Woes Continue

As I sit here, playing with the new All-In-1 HP printer Mrs.Pikey and I got for Christmas, I can't help but think that the Oilers didn't get the powerplay quarterback they were hoping for. I can just see it now....It's December 25th...Craig Simpson wakes up, gets out of bed, and realizes that his hair hasn't moved or changed since 1988. He lumbers down the stairs, still wiping the sleep from his eyes. He looks at the Christmas Tree and instead of a neatly wrapped PP QB in the form of a Peter Forsberg or Chris Drury, he realizes that his PP QB is still Marc-Andre Bergeron. Instead of getting down about it though, he goes into the kitchen to fix his morning coffee. He grabs a cup, puts in some sugar and pours his coffee. Now here is where it gets interesting. He goes to the fridge and grabs the milk. He goes to pour the milk, but before he can, he has to pass the milk to every member of his family, before trying to shoot the milk into his cup. After the milk has been passed around 5 times, Simpson thinks it's ready. He goes to pour, but spills a little on the counter. That counts as a missed shot. So he passes the milk again 5 or 6 times, before trying to pour it into his cup again.

Now, excuse the sarcasm, but that little story is indicative of the Oilers powerplay. (Of course, as I write this, the Oilers have just scored 2 powerplay goals to go up on Los Angeles 3-2).

Someone, I don't care who, but someone in Oilers management needs to realize that the club needs some help.

Ladislav Smid is starting to look a little tired, Daniel Tjarnqvist looks suspect, Jason Smith is battered, Staios is starting to wear, Marc-Andre Bergeron is Marc-Andre Bergeron, and Matt Greene is, well Matt Greene's ok.

But why hasn't Jan Hejda been given a chance. In the 8 games Hejda has played in Oiler silks this year, he's looked good. He hasn't looked out of place, and he hasn't cost us any games. When he was sent down to Hamilton before the Xmas break, he played 5 games in 7 nights and had 3 assists. Give him a shot damnit!

One of the best blogs on the internet (other than mine) is suggesting that maybe MacT give Smid a rest and insert #25. Is there anything wrong with a rookie playing 50 or 60 games, instead of 82. This blogger thinks not. The Oilers desperately need a puck moving d-man, but they also need a reliable veteran back there (another suggestion from Lowetide...see link above). Let's see if Hejda is that veteran.

Oh, and I almost forgot...It's time for the Weekly Shout Out!!

This weeks Weekly Shout Out goes to Atypical Albertan. ATA, after a seemingly endless period of self-imposed celibacy, is back on the horse.

So ATA, you get the Weekly Shout Out, for finally getting your dinky stinky (even if you haven't yet!)