One might think that with 93% of the Oilers currently languishing on the injured reserve list the platoon of AHL call ups might try making an impact on a shift or two against the Coyotes last night. We suppose they can’t all snipe a goal top cheddar or make a sick backhand saucer pass over a sprawling defender – but finish a check? Play with some emotion?

Is that too much to ask for AHL players flown in by the grace of Kay-Z on a private jet?

Yeesh.

In the GDB yesterday Gregor noted the Oilers “lineup” against the Coyotes last night. Injuries have obviously taken a catastrophic toll on this team and that is evident looking down the forward corps:

Jones-Cogliano-Eberle

Paajarvi-Fraser-Omark

Giroux-O’Marra-Reddox

MacIntyre-Vande Velde-Hartikainen

Then Photoshop Champion Ender did a little digging and found last year’s line up down the stretch. Different year, same injury problems. It looks like a different brand of gross, but certainly similarly distasteful:

Penner-Pouliot-Nilsson

Brule-Potulny-O’Sullivan

Moreau-Horcoff-Pisani

Jacques-Cogliano-Minard

Boy is this nasty. We would still prefer this years injury riddled lineup to last year’s injury riddled lineup but only because Eberle is on the squad, dazzling us all with his awesome. Who would you prefer? We will put it to a poll.

Buried deep within a 3-1 loss there were a handful of players who deserve special note last night. Hartikainen collected his first NHL point, which must be a thrill.

Reddox had an excellent game. This guy competes hard on each and every shift, as though it were his last. Some of the other players who could be playing their last shift in the NHL on any given night might do well to take note. We are beginning to see what Lowetide sees in 85.

Pajaarvi also had an excellent game and tallied a dandy goal as a result. The fact that he can keep on keepin’ on down the stretch shows another reason why he will be a sterling NHL’er for years to come.

And finally Ryan Jones had a great game in our opinion. His single shot on goal might not reflect it on the scoresheet but he was finishing checks and competing all night. We have to agree with Gregor and slap the Jones haters across the grill. For a waiver wire pickup, this guy is bringing it. The Oil would do well to sign him for a couple years and not let him walk over a couple hundred thousand in a Glencrossian type scandal.

Oh yeah – Jordan Eberle had 6 shots on net and was dancing around guys all night. But that should be expected from a beast.