If you want to know how the Oilers season has been so far, all you needed to do is watch last night's game against the Toronto Maple Leafs. It was very "Oilers".

Good Oilers

- Jordan Eberle was ridiculous. Scored twice; should have had four on the night. He absolutely gave the Leafs fits every time he touched the puck. For someone who isn't suppose to be a great skater, he flies. For someone who isn't big, he throws hits. If all of the players in Edmonton played with Eberle's hustle, they Oil would never lose.

- And what's a superhero without a few sidekicks? Taylor Hall was his reckless, speed demon self, and Sam Gagner continued his hot streak. I Tweeted have way through the game that Hall/Gagner/Eberle were the best line in hockey, and I was only sort-of joking.

- The Oilers had some decent performances from other players. Up front, Ryan Smyth was going. He had a clear goal called back because the official is stupid. All it needed was a quick video replay, boys. The goal was in two seconds before the whistle went. Ales Hemsky also played well. Wasn't brilliant, but he made some cute passes, and took a few hits without crumbling. But even though Hemsky looked okay and Smyth looked fine, the line was a collective -10 on the night. How did that happen?

On D, Jeff Petry might have played the best game of his life. Wow, is this guy ever turning into something fast. A few months ago, I thought he belonged in the AHL for at least another year. Now, he looks like the Oilers top guy. Opportunity knocked, he answered. Good stuff.

Bad Oilers

- After the fourth goal, I was yelling "pull Dubnyk" but no one was listening. I don't want to give the big guy a hard time, as he's done well recently. Time for a game or two off, though. He's still developing.

- It's not all Dubnyk's fault. The D was awful. Check that, because I can be more specific...the D was too slow. The Leafs can really fly out there, and the Oilers D could not handle their speed. Cam Barker was completely over his head out there. Corey Potter also played a terrible game. Tom Gilbert looked like a guy just returning from an injury (because he was) and there were moments when he struggled. Petry was the only defenseman who looked up to the task.

- The Eberle line was brilliant, and the Hemsky line was okay, but what were the other two lines doing?

"Very Oiler" Oilers
These are the moments that say everything about the type of season this team is having. Not good moments, but not always bad moments either. Weird moments. Weird moments that just seem to follow the Oilers around like a curse has been placed on them.

- First game all year the entire roster is healthy, so that means someone is definitely getting injured. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins takes a hard hit, and his shoulder is screwed again. If I'm the Oilers, considered where the season is at, I'm putting Nuge on the IR for the rest of the season. He obviously came back too soon from injury, and he's too important to the future to play hurt.

I hope this is not a bad sign of things to come when it comes to Nuge. I worried pre-NHL Draft that the reason the Oilers shouldn't take Nuge is because of his lack of size. Perhaps they brought him to the NHL too soon, or perhaps this is the way it's gonna be for him throughout his career. If he can't take a hard but fair hit in the offensive zone without breaking, my concern level is huge.

- Before the game, Oilers Head Coach Tom Renney took a puck in the head (thanks Ladislav) that required more than a dozen stitches to close. He was experiencing ringing in his ears, so he watched the game from his hotel room instead of being behind the bench. Don't worry, Ralphy played Belanger for no reason just as much as you do. At least one entertaining thing about the Renney injury is now people will think he and Taylor Hall are father and son.

- Speaking of the Oilers and coaching decisions, why leave a goalie in the net who is struggling during a winnable game? Oil weren't out of this one till late in the 3rd. And why do the end-of-game stats still show the Eberle line barely got more ice time than the Belanger line? After the 2nd period, Belanger had more ice-time than Eberle. That's more dumb than weird. If I'm coaching the Oilers, Eberle's line gets 20 minutes per night, and the third line gets 13-15, nothing more.

- How many stupid, fluke goals were let in by the Oilers? A counted two. Good teams don't let in those sort of gaffs. The one with Cam Barker bobbling a sad, powerless dump-in was in particular embarrassing.

- While there's no point crying over spilled milk, the disallowed Ryan Smyth goal would have completely changed the complexion of the game. Big different going into the second period being up 3-2 than being tied 2-2.

- Was I alone in wanting to punch the Sportsnet panel in the face every time they opened their mouth? Aside from having no clue about the Oilers, why don't they just talk about the Leafs, whom they clearly prefer? I have no idea where Damian Cox comes from, but he's the biggest idiot in hockey broadcasting. Is his appeal his big mouth, of the fact that the stupid stuff he says makes the rest of the panel look better by comparison?

Final Thoughts
It was a very Oilers game. There was heroics from the kids, two freak injuries, awful play from the vets, completely questionable defense, baffling coaching decisions, and frustrating goaltending. The Oilers lost a game they absolutely could have won. How many times have we said that this season?

It will be interesting to see if the Oilers do anything roster-wise this morning. Clearly, they need Andy Sutton to be playing instead of sitting out. Do you pull out Barker or Potter for next game? Barker was worse, but Potter has been going downhill for a while now. I couldn't believe they pulled Sutton out of the line-up against the Leafs in the first place.

With Nuge being re-injured, do the Oilers acquire one of the three players put on waivers yesterday? Anthony Stewart would be the player who makes the most sense to me. Big younger forward who had some decent seasons offensively in past. With Nuge likely out, the centers in Edmonton will be Gagner, Horcoff, Belanger and Lander. Left side is Hall, Smyth, Eager and ?; right side is Eberle, Hemsky, Jones and Petrell. Meaning, there would be room for Stewart on the left side, 3rd or 4th line.

Of course, sooner or later, someone is going to make a deal to start the trade deadline insanity. Oilerville has gone completely silent on Hemsky suddenly, so a deal for him doesn't seem ready to immediately occur. The Oilers AREN'T dealing Sam Gagner, no matter what some idiot broadcasters from TO keep insisting. Do you know what I wouldn't mind seeing? The Oilers taking a risk, for once. Move their 1st round pick this June for a younger player we know will be good and could immediately improve the team. High draft picks are nice and all, but let's get on with it. Would TO give us Luke Schenn for our pick? Would Philly give us JVR? Take a look around...there has to be two or three higher end guys available. Why wait? Right now is "sure thing" time. With a few additions, the Oil could be a very good team next season.

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