Well it was two good periods from Dubnyk yesterday morning that kept the Oilers in the game but goals number 3 and 4 were of the back-breaker variety and Edmonton found a way to lose again. The Flyers up until that game had yet to score more than 2 goals at home but doubled that mark, making the Oilers the ultimate slump-buster "cure for what ails you" team in the NHL. Even Giroux found a way to score.
What bothers me more than the fact that a former 90+ point player scored on the Oilers was that Dubnyk had previously stoned Giroux on two glorious chances but was beat from relatively long distance on a shot that had no business going in on an NHL goalie. Giroux took that wrister from the top half of the circles. Those cant go in, but here we are. And this is exactly why the Oilers' has been forced to sign Ilya Bryzgalov.
I am still very skeptical that the Russian netminder will be able to rediscover the form that he had in Phoenix here in the Alberta capital but he is the only hope we have left of climbing out of this tailspin. What the Oil are banking on, really, is that Bryzgalov's even strength save percentage dip last season was more of a random occurrence than a loss of ability.
Here are his Even Strength numbers: 2012-2013 .907 2011-2012 .921 2010-2011 .931 2009-2010 .928
Dubnyk's this year is .872 so we are talking a .035 difference assuming Bryzgalov is still as bad as he was last year and doesnt bounce back. So moving forward, what do we have here? We have a goalie in Bryzgalov who has a lot to prove and a track record of quality goaltending and we have a goalie that the management has no faith in to do the job. Both will be Unrestricted Free Agents at the end of the season.
Thinking ahead to the end of the year, what are the chances that the Oilers will be willing to commit big money, term, or responsibility to Dubnyk even if he salvages his play for the rest of the season? I think unlikely as they've spent the last 5-6 months trying to replace him, first at the draft and now through free agency. So why continue this experiment at all?
The Oilers sent Ladi Smid down the QE2 to Cowtown to free up some Cap Space, they can get another 925K of it by sending Dubnyk down to the AHL. All he needs to do is clear waivers, and at this point it would be a miracle if someone claimed him at all. The Oilers dont have faith in him, his team mates shouldnt have faith in him, and the fans are ready to burn him in effigy. If we're lucky he finds his game down there and can come back up not having directly cost us anymore points in the standings.
It's time to move on.
LINEUPS
There has been little word since last night's game so I imagine only some minor tweaks if any. This is the healthiest the team has been all season so I think they ought to stay somewhat stable to show what they can do. Gazdic looked like he hurt his shoulder in that fight, I wouldnt be surprised if Acton drew in for him.
UPDATE
The Oil are going back with Dubnyk in net and putting Arco back in at Center. This looks like a much better lineup.
Hall Gagner Hemsky Perron RNH Eberle Smyth Arcobello Yakupov Joensuu Gordon Jones
Ference Petry Belov Larsen N. Schultz Fedun
Dubnyk
The Blackhawks are an amazing team with great consistency in their coaching and it shows in their effort. The team knows exactly what to do in every situation. They are not learning as they go, they are simply playing high end hockey with professional execution. Sigh.
OILERS KEYS TO THE GAME
1) Quick Starts. The first 6-7 minutes of the 2nd and 3rd Periods against the Flyers were brutal. I am flabbergasted by this team's inability to start a Period of hockey like they are getting paid millions of dollars to play it.
2) Pay The Price. Yesterday the Oilers allowed an incredible number of unblocked shots get through onto Dubnyk, and everyone know the key to scoring on Dubnyk is to simply direct shots at him. They are bound to go in. The team lost its shot blocking leader, they need to collectively be better at paying the price in their own zone.
3) Out Work Somebody. I feel like a broken record, but if the forwards arent skating or battling for pucks then they arent going to win. Yesterday they were coasting around and making soft plays all game. The Blackhawks are a world class team, the Oilers need to out work them to have a chance.
Puck Drops at 5:38 PM Mountain time on Sportsnet. Game On!
Follow me on Twitter @Archaeologuy