Subject: Oilers lose Cam Talbot, cant catch a break
Author: Angel92
Posted on: 12/02/2017 02:37:16 AM
It comes at a time when the Oilers were starting http://www.authenticnhlmapleleafsshop.com/josh-leivo-jersey-c-1_8.html to string a couple wins together, having won two straight and three of their past four. Connor McDavid had gotten over the flu, Zack Kassian finally scored and Talbot was starting a mini-revival in the crease.
And then someone angered the hockey gods.
Perhaps Talbot injured his back from him having to carry the Oilers all last season. Maybe this year, the load has just become too much to bear.
Its a joke, of course, but Talbot has played a lot of hockey, with a lot being a severe understatement.
The 30-year-old played 73 games last season, a whopping 89 percent of Edmontons schedule and held down a .919 save percentage to go along with his 42 wins.
And that load hasnt lessened at all this season, with Talbot having played in 22 of Edmontons 25 games.
It wouldnt be surprising at all if Edmontons over-exertion of Talbot is somewhat to blame, but what choice have they had?
Theyve needed to lean on Talbot because theyve needed to win games. And backup Laurent Brossoits .881 save percentage and 0-3-1 record isnt doing Talbot, or the basement-dwelling Oilers, any favors.
Now that load shifts to Brossoit, who will immediately need to get better if the Oilers are to overcome Auston Matthews (who has the sniffles) and the Toronto Maple Leafs on Thursday.
Perhaps the rest will do Talbot some good. Hes received very little.
Meanwhile, McDavid vs. Matthews offers a salivating matchup for all hockey fans, even if both teams are polar opposites at the moment.
The Leafs are 7-2-1 in their past 10 games and are tied for second in the Eastern Conference with 33 points. As mentioned above, the Oilers are second last in the West and losers of six of their past 10.
Perhaps Matthews will be slowed down a little by the cold he is nursing. He failed to record a shot in his last game (which nearly led to Canada declaring several days of mourning), the first time in his career hes done so. He also hasnt scored in five games.
McDavid knows that pain. He hasnt found the http://www.authenticnhlrangersshop.com/joe-kocur-jersey-c-1_33.html back of the net in his past five games either, but has offered up five apples in that time.
Matthews and McDavid have met twice last season and both times Matthews Leafs came out on top.
It wouldnt be surprising in the least if something gave tonight for one (or both) of the superstars. Neither starves for that long.
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