Maybe it's better that we don't have more time to think about two blown leads and the two points that went with them. Being an Oilers fan means suffering when you think you should be celebrating. This is why it shouldn't have surprised me that the team snatched defeat from the jaws of victory after Ryan Nugent-Hopkins teamed up with David Perron to put the Oil ahead 4-3.

Anytime your team scores 4 goals in the NHL should be during a winning occasion and yet locking down a win seemed too difficult for the team. Scoring wise, the team had everything they wanted. They had contributions from the depth of the lineup and from the top.

Pitlick, who scored his first National Hockey League goal is out with a knee injury sustained during a very impressive hip check. I saw some people suggest he was submarined but I thought it was a good hit. Unfortunately he will be out for an undetermined amount of time with that injury. The Oil have recalled Anton Lander to take his spot on the wing.

Lander, up until a few days ago, was considered the Barons' best all-around forward. By now many fans had written him off but he has been productive offensively and sound defensively for Todd Nelson's squad. He has 6 points in 8 games so far and was named the Barons' Captain. The only other option, as I see it, would have been Omark who has flipped a switch offensively in recent games to become a dynamo in the AHL. Perhaps if it had been someone in the too 6 who had been injured he would have had the callup.

Lander isn't alone on the callup, Bachman is also on his way up from the AHL. The Stars' former backup goalie has played very well for the Barons and at this point there is no reason to keep him down. He is sporting a .925 save percentage so far this year. The Oilers do not have the luxury of time to allow their goaltending duo to sort things out on their own. Edmonton is doing a fantastic job of limiting shots from within 25 feet and yet their goalies are letting in goals like its the 1980's. It is unclear right now if Labarbera has an injury or if the coach has simply lost faith in him.

Luckily it appears as though Petry wasnt injured on the play, but Hanzal's hit on the big defenseman is being reviewed by the league. Naturally Hanzal stayed in the game after he jumped up into the 6'3" defender's face with his elbow and scored a goal. At the time I thought it was a vicious attempt to take out Petry's head but in the NHL nothing gets called unless you are convulsing on the ice. I'm glad they are looking at it now at least.

LINEUPS

Dubnyk should feature back in unless Eakins' plan has changed. Last night very briefly the Coach had Perron playing with RNH and Eberle and the rewards were immediate. He switched back and Yakupov was able to chip in as well with an assist. Whichever lineup he starts with it is clear he doesn't mind playing with it during the games. Expect. Lander on the Wing.

UPDATE

It isnt LaBarbera who has the injury, it's Dubnyk. He has some kind of ankle injury. Look for Bachman to play.

Yak RNH Eberle
Perron Arco Hemsky
Lander Gordon Jones
Eager Acton Gazdic

Belov J. Schultz
Smid Petry
Ference N. Schultz

Bachman

I will update this with the Kings' lineup when more info becomes available. Kopitar is putting up the points but not necessarily scoring goals. Him and Arcobello can form a support group.

OILERS KEYS TO THE GAME

1) Beware of Deflections. The Oilers system seems to really limit close range shots but the points are more open than not. Most of yesterday's goals were tipped or deflected in some way. They need to give their netminders good looks at these shots. Get bodies out of the way.
2) That PK is terrible. 2 straight PP goals allowed to tie it up then win? Unacceptable. That diamond shaped PK that looks like a 5-3 with a rover is pathetic. Get rid of it.
3) Stay Healthy. This is getting ridiculous. With Pitlick out the Oilers are down Hall, Gagner, Potter, Pitlick, Smyth, Joensuu, and MacIntyre. This lineup isn't anything close to what was written down on paper in July.

Puck drops at 7:08PM Mountain time on Sportsnet. Game On!

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