HALL GET HIS FIRST!

And with that...the wait is over. This wasn't the prettiest first goal. It wasn't a great move and sniped like Jordan Eberle's first, but it was a great goal from the standpoint of getting the monkey off Hall's back! Not to mention he was in the tough area in fron of the net and had the ability and hand-eye coordination to make the tip. I would've liked to see Hall in the shoot-out, but I'm sure we will see that soon enough.


He had scored on Steve Mason in his first year in Junior, and now he's scored on Mason again in his first NHL season. Also, the Asst. Coach Bob Bougner was his coach in Windsor so it made it a little more exciting for him, from that respect.


You could see how excited he was to show off the puck when he was talking to Gene Principe after the game! Hopefully now he will be able to loosen the grip on his stick, relax and let the flood gates open.


I can't believe that we went an entire game without allowing a power play goal! Hopefully this isn't an anomaly, and that it is the start of turning our PK around.


THE GOALTENDING...


Dubnyk did really well last night stopping 40 of 42 shots. I thought he looked comfortable in the net and not the least bit nervous. Maybe this is why people in this town figure he's the best candidate to stay here going forward. I would sure love to see if Deslauriers can have that type of performance before they make the decision though.


PRE-GAME CHICAGO THOUGHTS...


So Marian Hossa isn't playing tonight due to an "upper body injury." And I believe the Hawks have a few new faces in the line-up tonight. Brian Campell is not in tonight either.


The Oilers will have their hands full with the skill that Chicago has. Not to mention some their all-world d-men.


It's important to note here, that th Oilers have come back in two straight games to take the respective games to over-time and, at least get a point from each game. Tonight, if the team gets down early, they now know they have the ability stick with it and have success.


I have not heard who will be in net for the Oil tonight, I assume it'll be ex-Hawk Khabibulin. Marty Turco is not that a good of a Goalie as far as I have seen in the last few years, and if he's in net for the Hawks tonight...I believe we can slide a few past him. Turco does handle the puck very well, but sometimes he tries that too much, and I have seen it cost him.


All in all it should be an interesting game tonight!


GO Oilers GO!