The last game against the Blackhawks raised a question to me that really needs to be posed to the Oilers, "What kind of team do you want to be?" This is a team without an identity, and they are playing like it. Is this a speedy skilled team that will skate you to death? Is this a workman-like team that will win the little battles until they add up to wins? Do they even know themselves?

We know at least one thing, they arent that blue-collar group who fights in the corners. They wont even finish a check when the opportunity prevents itself. The make-up of this squad is apparently too polite to hit anybody. So what does that mean? Are they the speed/skill team that will kill you with their skating?

Nope.

If that really was their identity then we wouldn't be waiting until the 2nd period for them to start moving their feet. They SHOULD be the fast skating club, but they arent, and they arent because they lack either the maturity or competitive fire to make it happen game in game out. The skill on this team, especially up front, is not in question, but laying an egg the way they did against the Blackhawks should be unacceptable for a team that wants to turn a corner.

The Blackhawks are a good team, to be sure, but even weaker teams can at least compete against better ones. The Oil took a weekend off and turned it into a weak effort. This speaks directly to a lack of identity. Where's the purpose in their actions or the pride in playing their game? Maybe it's the youth in lineup, maybe its the 8th coach in as many hours, maybe it's the wrong group of players.

Contrast that with the Nashville Predators though and deficiencies of this Oilers team become magnified. The Predators are a well coached team. Barry Trotz is in his 15th(!) year as head coach for Nashville and the stability has served to keep the team's identity well defined. One day soon it's my hope that the same things will be said about the Oilers, but that day is not today.

LINEUPS

The #FreeArco movement is getting its wish today as Arcobello is getting back in the lineup along with Jones. It was inevitable he would get another chance to play. It's no secret that the little guy has grown on me. I want to see what he can do with limited minutes. Grebeshkov is also back and paired with Jultz, which can only be followed with "hilarity ensues" on the program. Bryz gets the start.

Hall RNH Eberle
Yakupov Gagner Hemsky
Smyth Gordon Perron
Jones Arcobello Joensuu

Ference Petry
Grebeshkov J. Schultz
N. Schultz Belov

Bryzgalov

OILERS KEYS TO THE GAME

1) Bryz Proves Them Wrong. If Bryzgalov plays great then all the pundits will say "I didnt say he was a bad goalie" but they did and Bryz needs to play up to the levels he has shown in the past to prove them wrong. The Oilers arent defensively responsible enough night in night out to get away with subpar goaltending. He played well in reliefe the other night, now he gets the start.

2) Show Up To Play. 26 games in and we're still wondering why these guys cant start a game when the puck drops. I'm beginning to question their professionalism. Tie it to identity or not, but they need to skate hard out of the gate, because Nashville is generally ready to start working when the Anthems are through.

3) Finish Checks. This is related to point number 2, but these guys peel off checks like they're allergic to contact. Nail a defender on the forecheck. Please. Someone. Anyone.

Puck drops tonight at 6:00PM Mountain on Sportsnet. Game On!

Follow me on Twitter @Archaeologuy

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