Tonight was the most frustrating Edmonton Oilers loss in a long, long time. It’s arguably the one that has gotten me the most angry, and that’s saying something. The Oilers out-shot the Leafs, dominated the dot, played a decent physical game, scored five goals and held Toronto under 30 shots. Yet, the Oilers lost.
What gives? Devan Dubnyk gives. I’m sorry Devan, but time is up for you. Enough is enough, this is two wins that have slipped away due to awful goaltending play.
If the Oilers were getting just average NHL goaltending, they would be 3-2 right now, and would have beaten Winnipeg and Toronto. The guy in net for both of those games? Devan Dubnyk.
Dubnyk is currently sitting with an 0-3-1 record, a 5.28 GAA, a .847 SV% and absolutely no confidence. The fans don’t have confidence in him, and for good reason right now.
The Jacob Trouba goal against the Winnipeg Jets sticks out as a goal that has to be stopped by an NHL level goalie. It was a terribly weak goal at the worst possible time, and killed the Oilers momentum in that game.
On Saturday in Toronto, Dubnyk gave up multiple soft goals that killed the Oilers and their momentum. The team led four times in the game, and were the better team, yet they ended up with a loss. It’s tough to win when your goalie gives up six goals, four of them which an average NHL goalie stops.
The first goal by Kadri was a classic case of trying to cheat the shooter, and DD paid for it. Joffrey Lupul tied things up at three in the second period, and while he wasn’t covered, it’s an area of the ice that DD needs to make the stop in. JVR’s wrap-around to tie things up at four? Brutal. Lupul’s second goal in the final minute? Worst of the night.
That’s four goals that should have been stopped. In all honesty, that game shouldn’t have even gone to overtime. The Oilers didn’t get NHL level goaltending for the fourth time in five games. That’s a little bit more than a little bad luck, that’s the beginning of a trend, one that could end the Oilers season before it really begins.
The team itself is starting to look decent. They are scoring goals at a decent rate right now, but don’t have anyone to stop them from going in. This is a team that should easily have three wins right now, but is stuck at one. That’s absurdly frustrating for us fans, I can only imagine what it is like for the players, coach Eakins, and Craig MacTavish.
I stood up for Devan Dubnyk all summer long, I made the case for him that this was his chance to prove he is a legit NHL goalie, and is the guy to lead the Oilers to the playoffs. The Oilers as a team have played well enough through five games to have an over .500 record, but they haven’t gotten anything close to NHL level goaltending to this point.
We know Craig MacTavish went goalie shopping this summer, and we are only now seeing why he decided to do so. Devan Dubnyk has been costing the Oilers at the start of the season, and it could very well cost the team in the long run. It’s been sub NHL level goaltending.
Some want to blame the defense, and it’s a valid argument, but some of the goals going in are simply inexcusable from an NHL netminder, that’s just the reality of it.
It’s time for the Oilers to take control of the situation and make a move. Whether it’s a trade or a free agent signing, the Oilers need to make a move in between the pipes before the season gets away from them. They might not have much time to wait either. We heard Bob McKenzie hint at a move earlier this week, and that timeline may become accelerated very soon. The Oilers are about to face more very good hockey clubs on the road. Wasting these good efforts WILL hurt them.
It’s time for that bold move Craig. Ryan Miller, Ilya Bryzgalov, Jonas Hiller, anyone at this point please.
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
