Having completely suppressed all memories of the Devils’ last game, tonight we head out to Edmonton. We’re feeling warm-hearted toward this fine Canadian city after all the nice things Lowetide pointed about our home state today. Our broadcast opens with a promise from Steve that the Oilers’ building is packed with Sutters this evening, and then he threatens us with a two-part interview with Brent Sutter during the intermissions. *Shudder*
Doc and Chico report to us that the ex-Devil of note on the other team’s roster tonight is, of course, Sheldon Souray. The give us the delightful news that Sheldon specifically asked them to wish a happy holiday to the people “back east”, and then add the totally unsurprising news that Oilers fans were super-excited when they found out Shellie had signed with their team, but have been disappointed by the fact that he brought his injury problems to Edmonton with him.
Wait, were we at all hopeful that something good might come of this game? We aren’t anymore, after Steve tells us the lines Sutter invented for tonight are Zubrus-Elias-Clarkson, Parise-Zajac-Gionta, Brylin-Madden-Langenbrunner, and Pelley and Asham as the loose parts. Steve conjectures the dreadfully slumping Patty and Gio might figure their shit out this way; we conjecture that they might figure their shit out if they get put back on the really effective line of them and Zach again. This is like the rookie player spazzing out and trying to do too much on the ice while playing for the first time in front of friends and family, except the head coaching version. On D, Brookbank’s out, Oduya and Greener are in. We adjust our expectations accordingly.
FIRST PERIOD
19:35 We hate that the cameras are on the same side of the ice as the benches in Edmonton. But we’ll at least be big enough to say that the picture, normally wretched, is not as bad as anticipated.
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