Post Game: Game #10 Stars 3 Oilers 2 (OT)

1ST PERIOD
No Scoring

2ND PERIOD
EDM Hemsky 4 (Yakupov, Gagner) 3:21
DAL Benn 3 (Jagr, Morrow) 13:24
DAL Roy 1 (Eriksson, Ryder) 18:44 PP

3RD PERIOD
EDM J.Schultz 3 (Hemsky, Hall) 7:38 PP

OT
DAL Jagr 3 (Benn, Robidas) 1:46


Dallas
Kari Lehtonen 27/29

Edmonton
Devan Dubnyk 25/28


My View:
- Bad news, the Oilers lose another one in overtime. Good news, the Oilers get another "loser point". Let's face it, the Oilers are the walking wounded now. Down to one legitimate NHL center in Sam Gagner, the Oilers generally played well, some passengers on this night but some players playing at a high level despite the injuries around them. A 4th center went down in this game, Anton Lander, who took a shot off an ankle and missed the rest of the game. It's very tough to win without competant centers in the NHL. The centers the Oilers had were questionably good enough when healthy but when they start having to have to go three deep into OKC for centers, that's some pretty grim stuff. The road is going to start to get real bumpy unless the Oilers can start filling the holes down the middle with legitimate NHLers ASAP. Mark Arcobello got his first NHL game, looked like an AHLer, the play was one step ahead of him all night. Obviously, an adjustment period will be needed there. It's not looking pretty in Oilerville. 5th game in a row they have failed to score more than 2 goals and right now, its the difference between winning and losing these games. Defensively, the Oilers have been solid. Keeping the chances to a minimum, still have the odd one on one breakdown but every team has those. The Oilers head off on a quick two game weekend road trip through Michigan and Ohio to face these same Dallas Stars next Tuesday. The loser points are keeping the Oilers afloat but if these points starting turning into losses rather than wins, then it will be lights out quickly.

Player Of The Game:
Ales Hemsky RW - For the 2nd game in a row, Ales Hemsky finds himself in this spot. Playing the game with a lot of speed and confidence and more importantly making plays while avoiding traffic. Tallied a goal and an assist on this night and he, along with Taylor Hall were gangbusters in the offensive zone. Constantly breaking down the defense of the Stars, moving silky smooth like the younger version of Ales Hemsky would have done. The key for Hemsky now is to keep building on a game to game to basis. Honorable mention to Ladislav Smid, who blocked 9 shots on this night. It's rare a defensive defenseman will find himself here, but Smid came close. If the game would have ended at 2-1, he likely would have been here.

Goat Of The Game:
Jordan Eberle RW - Had the game on his stick a couple of times in the third period on shots he normally wouldn't miss when things are going right for him. If he cashes in on one of those opportunities, the outcome may have been different. The sights are a bit off on Eberle over the past few games. Eberle going cold is a big reason the Oilers are having a tough time scoring more than 2 goals in a game.

Next Game: Saturday February 9, 2013 vs. Red Wings @ Detroit on CBC 12 PM MT