COD LIVER OIL

Isn’t it fitting that a pharmaceutical chain sponsors the arena in Edmonton.

It is, because many times in past the Oilers on home ice are a remedy, written on a prescription, with a laxative chaser, for whatever is ailing the Dallas Stars at that given time.

Last night it was a 10 game road winless streak.

This time the Oilers gave them a weeks supply of turnovers, a rookie goalie, and two tablespoons of Jason Strudwick, and, despite some late game nausea, the Stars felt much better as they headed to the airport bound for Denver with a one game road win streak buoying them.

MALADROITS NEED NOT APPLY

The firing of tough guy George Laraque in Montreal is the public face of what has been happening behind the scenes for a few years now, the eradication of the one-dimensional “ice fighter”.

First it was the abolishing of the staged fight. Then the streamlining of the game itself which put a premium on skating and skill – two things most of the mammoth, bench-stapled tough guys were, or are, deficient in.

Bottom line, they aren’t NHL caliber hockey players.

There will always be a place for rugged individuals who can play the game and are willing to stick up for teammates but the 2 minute a game fight specialist is about to go extinct.

STAT SCHOOL

Did you happen to catch my Olympic quality, blow your mind, razorific, stat of stats that I unearthed during an epiphytical afternoon of number crunching in Vancouver?

Over the Stars first 50 games this season the team that wins the second period has a record of 33-4-1.

Ya, un-freakin’- believable isn’t it? And don’t worry, the mind recovers after being blown. Well, most do.