Dallas, we're all here today because we love you. We just want you to listen to what we have to say and then you can have your chance to talk.

*Ahem*

Dallas when you first got here...

TIME FOR A SCHULTZERVENTION

Mark Spector asked of Dallas Eakins when it is he will take the currency that he has with Justin Schultz, ice time, and dial it back. Dallas took a second to think about it.

His response, "When we see fit."

I don't know when the coaching staff will ever find a way to see fit that Justin Schultz should have his ice time taken away if last night didn't do the trick.

Spector kept going. "Hey, the season's almost done here for you guys. When do you think you might see fit?"

*Eakins turns to Jim Matheson of the Journal* "Matty?"

Question dodged.

The Oiler season IS almost over. It lasted roughly 3 weeks longer than it did last year, but it is face down in the mud right now and I can't find a pulse. The Oilers are better 5v5, I truly believe that, but the goaltending wasn't good enough or close to it in the first 1/4 of the season and the finishers couldn't put the puck in the back of the net enough either.

Those two things are outside of the coach's control, though. Dallas Eakins can't help it if Arco sends the best look he's had all night 3 feet over the net. He can't do anything if Fasth cheats pass and gives one up that he should have had. The only things Eakins can control are the game plan, preparation, and ice time.

Last night by eye and by number the best defensive pairing was Marincin/Petry. Not only were they creating chances by hammering the puck at the net, but they continued their inspired play at their own blueline. When they were on the ice the oilers were effectively untouchable.

Marincin finished the night with a 94% CF. He played only 15 minutes at Even Strength. His partner Petry played roughly 16 minutes 5v5.

Justin Schultz was the primary culprit on the 2nd goal because he skated roughly 80 feet out of position to go on the forecheck (he really DOES think he's a forward) and the co-culprit on the 1st goal because he let his man get between him and the goaltender with his lackadaisical Defense of the blueline. That same Justin Schultz was given a little over 19 minutes of Even Strength time.

Jultz played 23 minutes, 4 on the PP, and still never managed a single shot on net. Marincin had 3, Petry had 4.

Who of those 3 is the Offensive Defenseman again? This coaching staff needs to seriously re-evaluate the logic behind sending Schultz out there when the team is trailing.

LINEUP

Benoit Pouliot broke his foot blocking a shot yesterday. After the game Eakins said he would be going with 7 defensemen because of that. That should officially kill whatever hope Gazdic has of cracking this lineup. Nikita Nikitin was the 2nd worse defender and he has a wonky back but apparently he'll still be on the bench. I'm guessing Hall gets a lot of double shifts tonight.

UPDATE

Nikitin will be a Healthy scratch tonight. Joensuu is coming in and Hendricks will likely be promoted up a line.

Dallas Eakins via Gene Principe: "If you cannot break your addiction of playing certain ways there's going to be a big problem."

Perron RNH Eberle
Hendricks Arco Yak
Hall Drai Purcell
Joensuu Gordon Pinizzotto

Marincin Petry
Ference Schultz
Aulie Fayne

Scrivens

OILERS KEYS TO THE GAME

1) Leadership Steps Up. David Perron's post-game interview was the evidence that this team is on the verge of having one of two things happen. Either this dressing room is about to fracture or somebody inside of it is going to take over. You can interpret his outburst as calling out the coaching staff for not providing accountability, but what I think it was actually Perron saying the leaders of this team have to say that enough is enough. Those leaders can be coaches, managers, or players. Whoever they are need to demand more from the guys who continue to make the same mistakes.

2) Free Marincin. He and Petry should be logging the most minutes tonight (and every night). Once reunited him and Petry showed the same chemistry they did last year. Why it took 20 games to get them back together is a question for the coach. There was plenty of reason to believe the duo could work but all prior success together was ignored. Just play the best paring more than your worst. It can't be that hard.

3) The Dirty Areas. One thing that I completely agree with Eakins on from his post game preserved is that he needs to get his guys going to the dirty areas to score. Who on this team is going to skate to the front of the net and stay there? Who has the will to fight for that space or to dig the puck out of a corner to extend the offensive zone time?

Puck drops tonight at 8:10PM Mountain Time on CBC. Game On!

Follow me on Twitter @Archaeologuy

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