What a Sad State

What a sad state the Oilers are in now. I think it's time to admit that the wheels have fallen off the wagon and the horse is getting away. With less than 5 min to go and up 3-2 the Oilers let in 3 goals and lost 5-3. What the hell Radek Dvorak was doing in front of the net tipping a shot past his own goaltender is beyond me. What the hell Igor Ulanov is thinking throwing the puck carelessly around in his own end and passing to to players on the other team not once but twice is beyond me. What Ryan Smyth is doing passing the puck back between his legs into the slot infornt of his own goal to, well, no one (luckily) is beyond me. We can't blame bad goaltending for this one – this was another example of a bunch of brain dead players skating around. Luckily they only showed up for the last 5 min of the game.
This is truly a team that has to be shaken up. I don't think we can wait any longer to push the panic button. What would I do if I were the coach? Well, after pulling my self out of the fetal position and I stop crying, I'd cut Igor Ulanov. He's been an unmitigated disaster. In only 7 games he's managed to get his plus minus rating down to -7. He's too slow and the game has passed him by.
The next thing I would do is sit Radek Dvorak out for the next game. You have to send a message to your players that playing like your still in junior hockey isn't going to cut it. What the hell is he thinking standing in front of his own net with his stick on the ice with less than 2 min to go in a tie game.
As far as Ryan Smyth, I'd have him sit out the next game as well. He has a history of doing stupid things like that and again you have to make it clear that you expect your players to actually think and stay focused for 60 minutes.
If I were Kevin Lowe, again I'd get out of the fetal position and try to stop crying for a bit and start looking around for another desperate team that is willing to give you players for almost nothing, and right now all the desperate teams are desperate for a reason – they don't have anyone and I for one don't really see the point, yet, in making a trade for the sake of making a trade.
The next Oiler game is Friday night against Dallas..........I hope they actually play for 60min this time.