Kukla's Korner Hockey

The writing may be on the wall for Dick Tarnstrom, who has been beaten out of a regular defence spot, for now, by the inspired pairing of two young Edmonton Oilers puck-movers.

Tom Gilbert and Denis Grebeshkov were on the ice with two minutes left Sunday in Anaheim as coach Craig MacTavish tried to get a short-handed score that Andrew Cogliano provided.

Tarnstrom, who was signed to a one-year, $2-million contract, has sat out two of the last three games at a time when the Oilers are missing two of their top four defencemen—Sheldon Souray and Joni Pitkanen—to injury.