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G54 Oilers vs Predators: Dubnyk Benched In Return To Edmonton |
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The Oil will take on the Preds in a matchup that could have potentially featured former Oiler goaltender, and world's shortest 6'6" man, Devan Dubnyk (Doubtful to play tonight). Since the trade things havent exactly turned around for Dubnyk. Before he left his supporters asked how any goaltender could look good in front of this Oilers team. Naturally a team with a porous defense would give up a high number of quality scoring chances and result in lowered save percentages, right?
Well that may be so but perhaps the effects of this Oiler team's poor defensive structure on the performance of their goaltenders has been overstated, because in front of a much better Predators club Dubnyk has been equally as terrible. Yes, in front of a team that features Shea Weber and a Barry Trotz system Dubnyk has mustered just an .850 sv%. At this point it isnt even clear if the Preds can gamble on him playing well in front of his old team because his established level of play for them is below ECHL quality.
Trotz was quoted on Nashville sports radio as suggesting that Dubnyk picked up some bad habits during this season with Edmonton. It's comments like those that bring Oiler goalie coach Freddy Chabot's contributions into question. What has he done with his goaltenders? What did he try to do with Dubnyk? How does he approach the game? Actually, up to this point I dont know if I have ever heard Chabot answer a single question from the media this year.
Given the struggles of both Dubnyk, LaBarbera, and Bryzgalov I think it's fair to ask questions of the man responsible for keeping them game-ready. At this point, in the absence of his side of the story, it surely seems as if the Oilers have a problem with their goalie coach. I would love to hear exactly what he thinks the problems are and how he plans to address them.
LINEUPS
Just when you thought the Oilers D couldnt get much worse injury strikes. The same "upper body" injury that knocked Ference out of the last game will keep him out of this one altogether. Without their Captain on the ice the level of experience to draw on falls drastically. Unless nick Schultz is inserted on a top pairing the most experienced player back there is Jeff Petry, who only has 207 games under his belt. Hemsky is still out, Gazdic draws back in.
Hall RNH Eberle
Smyth Gagner Perron
Hendricks Gordon Jones
Gazdic Arcobello Yakupov
N. Schultz J. Schultz
Potter Petry
Belov Marincin
Scrivens
OILERS KEYS TO THE GAME
1a) Hutton Who? News has come down that Dubnyk will not get the start barring a last minute case of food poisoning (come on downtown Subway, do your thing) and Hutton will be getting the start. Hutton has won 4 straight games for the Preds and has only allowed a single goal in each of his last two games. Edmonton will be up against a hot goalie tonight.
1b) Shoot High Glove Side. This is in the event that Dubnyk actually plays tonight. If thats the case then I think we know exactly where the net will be open. If I were Trotz I would check to see if Dubnyk is hiding bricks in that glove hand, because it stays pretty low and doesnt exactly come up with a lot of speed.
2) Double Check When The Game Starts. I dont know about you guys but I am tired of watching the Oilers drastically outplayed in the first only to show up in the 2nd and 3rd periods. Score effects, blah, blah, blah. Dont care. Its a 6pm start, be there on time.
3) Power Play? It went 0-5 against the Coyotes and has been an issue all year. They stick to the perimeter and never seem to want to take the puck to the net. NHL games are won and lost on special teams. If you go 0-5 in a game then you deserve to lose.
Puck drops tonight at 6:08PM Mountain Time on Sportsnet. Game On!
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