Oilers' lack of compete level angers Tambellini

EDMONTON -- With Sunday's 4-0 loss to the Ducks pushing their home winless skid to seven games, the Edmonton Oilers have been called out by GM Steve Tambellini heading into tonight's game against the Dallas Stars.

Tambellini met with his players behind closed doors Monday before practice and said he expects them to concentrate on doing what it takes to win and to forget bigger-picture issues -- namely, the likelihood the Oilers will miss the playoffs for a fifth-straight season and finish with the fewest points in the League for a second season in a row.

"When he came in, he made it obvious," said Andrew Cogliano. "Whatever is on the outside, about whatever place we're in, the first-overall pick, that's got to stop now.

"He made it clear he wants us to start winning games and really bring a more competitive attitude, especially after the last game. We didn't have that in our game at all."

The last-place Oilers managed just 12 shots on goal in the loss to Anaheim. That defeat came on the heels of a 5-3 loss Saturday to the Ottawa Senators, a team that came in on an 11-game winless streak.

Win or lose the rebuilding Oilers have competed more nights than not this season, but the effort level was wanting against the Senators and the Ducks. Motivation, however, shouldn't be an issue against the Stars, who beat the Oilers 3-1 on Jan. 26 in a tough, physical game played in Dallas.

"Enough is enough," Dustin Penner said of the poor performances. "We have to take it upon ourselves to change it."

Around the rink -- The Stars will play without leading scorer Brad Richards, who is No. 6 in the League with 63 points. He was shaken up on the final shift of Sunday's 2-1 loss to Columbus. ... Edmonton's 30th-ranked power play went scoreless in two attempts against Anaheim. It's 0-for-24 during its past seven games and 3-for-82 in its past 23 games. ... Dallas is 1-4-1 since the All-Star break and is 3-6-1 in its past 10 games. ... The Stars can sweep the season series against the Oilers after 3-1, 4-2 and 3-2 wins in the previous three games. ... In the Jan. 26 game, the Oilers and Stars combined for eight fighting majors and 100 penalty minutes. ... The Oilers are 7-17-4 at home this season. The seven home wins are the fewest in the League. ... The Stars are 14-11-1 on the road but have lost four straight away from home.