With a 2 am arrival after their 7-2 win over Columbus on Tuesday night, the Edmonton Oilers didn't skate on Wednesday. Instead they had a team meeting and then met with the media where the hot topic continued to be Dustin Penner and the comments his head coach Craig MacTavish made about him last weekend.

"I didn't see it coming" is how Penner explained his reaction after MacTavish ripped his left winger for a lack of fitness and intensity along with the fact he didn't want to continue watching the same thing for the duration of Penner's $21.25 million contract. "It's not something I normally do, I don't believe in it." was the response given by the coach.

That didn't stop MacTavish from using a verbal barrage to try and motivate his player going into the game against the Blue Jackets and it worked. Penner was a physical presence, killed penalties and scored a goal. "He played well really well and that's what he's capable of" was MacTavish's assessment of Penner's play.

While MacTavish's words were followed up by Penner's actions this latest episode hasn't done much to build a tighter working relationship between the two. "I don't hold a grudge" is how Penner put it. "It's about business and it doesn't matter if we get along off the ice."