Oilers Win an Ugly Game

The third game of the Oilers 3 game road trip landed them in Dallas Texas to face the Stars. If you recall the Dallas Stars were one of teams to contribute a full 60 minutes to the Oilers record breaking home ice goalless skid earlier this season. In that game the Oilers were completely outplayed by the Stars and that wasn't about to change in this game either.

Highlights

The Stars First Goal (Short Handed)

So what the highlight doesn't show is that the Oilers had the zone during this power play but the puck skips out to centre ice. Denis Grebeshkov tries to handle it but Shawn Horcoff is all over him and forces Grebeshkov to double back. Grebeshkov's defence partner is Nail Yakupov who is there in support originally but cycles back expecting a pass from Grebeshkov, which never occurs. This leaves Grebeshkov by himself against Horcoff and Ryan Garbutt. Garbutt steals the puck from Grebeshkov and is alone on Ilya Byzgalov. (I think that is the most ov's I've ever written in one paragraph).

The Difference

Tyler Dellow made an intersting point after the goal.

Grebeshkov would have been better making a soccer play there and passing back to Bryz.

— mc79hockey (@mc79hockey) December 2, 2013

Tyler is right. If Grebeshkov has no out maybe passing back to the goalie isn't the worst option. Even if he shot the puck into the far corner it would've negated the goal against since Ales Hemsky was in a position to get to it before one of the Stars' players. Needless to say the cut back by Grebeshkov is what fooled the Oilers forwards on this play and caused two on one and ultimately the break away.

Tweet of the Game

Props to Dubnyk and Bryz. Stole that game #Oilers

— 93Oilers (@93Oilers) December 2, 2013

Take Aways

The Power Play

After Yakupov's goof on the power play against Chicago it seems that Dallas Eakins has completely abandoned the 5 forward power play. Since then the Oiler power play has been relatively flat, yes the Oilers scored a PPG against Columbus the other night but they were already dead by that point. It may be time to revisit the 5 forward PP since the same thing happened tonight with a defenceman on the point.

Ilya Brygalov

Had a great game up until the point that Garbutt gave him a "neck injury" (aka concussion). Hope he's back soon and the isjury isn't severe.

Boyd Gordon

This team needs him back and soon. Hopefully this isn't a long term injury and he's ready to play on Tuesday.

Three Stars

1. Jordan Eberle
2. Ilya Brygalov
3. Devan Dubnyk