MONTREAL - The Canadiens need help. And it's not because they lost to the Edmonton Oilers, but because they lost the fifth of their last six games.

On top of losing valuable points in the standings, the team has reached its limit on the injury front.

James Wisniewski was rushed to the hospital after blocking a shot with his face in the first period of this one.

The blow was a devastating one that had to have caused significant damage.

Whether he can tough through it or not, he'll be worse for wear after that one.

Add him to ailing blueliners Jaroslav Spacek, Hal Gill, Andrei Markov and Josh Gorges; the Canadiens were skating with a less experienced blue line than the young, bottom of the standings Oilers.

P.K. Subban played over 29 minutes for the second-straight game.

His elevated role has seen him play some brilliant hockey of late, but the -7 over his last six games is an indication of the instability of Montreal's current blue line.

Yannick Weber played upwards of 27 minutes in Edmonton, and came out even on the night--quite a formidable feat in a 4-1 loss.

Webber's got one goal and nine assists in 30 games. He's a +5, and he's arguably been one of Montreal's best defensemen over the last stretch of games.

The play of Pacioretty, Desharnais and Pouliot has been the talk of the town over the last two weeks. But the Canadiens are losing games.

It's so often reiterated that your best players need to be your best players, because it's true.

For too long, Scott Gomez hasn't fallen into that category.

And even if he was Montreal's best against Edmonton, that he couldn't capitalize hurt the team.

Tomas Plekanec's entitled to an off-night, and there's no denying he had one in Edmonton.

When he's the one creating chances he does capitalize.

But Plekanec can't do it on his own.

If Brian Gionta's hot and cold, it's not for lack of effort.

But the last time he scored points in consecutive games was nine games ago.

You can't knock Gionta's team-leading 21 goals, but people seem to put more stock in them than the 22 assists Gomez has managed.

Don't get me wrong, the comparison between Gomez and Gionta doesn't apply, no matter how similar their production.

The point is to illustrate that Gomez's 29 points and Gionta's 31 need to be built upon with consistency, especially when the team needs them most.

Nice that the kids are getting it done, but the oldest one among them (Kostitsyn) has but three goals in his last 34 games.

He's got one assist in his last 11.

And it's gotten to the point where he's disgracing the team, not only with his performance but with his lack of commitment when so many around him have sacrificed to put the Canadiens in favorable standing.

The current personnel on defence can't account for the losses to five of seven key components missing from their brigade.

Pierre Gauthier sits at the crossroads.

One has to wonder how confident he is that Cammalleri's return from an injury that's kept him out 12 games will be enough to boost the players that should be running Montreal's offence.

Will Gill's return and Mara's inclusion immediately stabilize their blue line?

There's no question those three players will help, but this team is in unfavorable territory, in tough against the Flames for the Heritage Classic, and likely in tougher against the Canucks a couple of nights later.

Can Gauthier afford not to intervene, knowing this is his timeout opportunity in a game that's not yet out of reach?

What will the evaluation be if reinforcements aren't brought in and the Canadiens blow this Western swing?

Don't forget, the team will then return home for two games against the Leafs and Hurricanes, before stammering back out for 5/6 on the road (where they're now two games under .500...ps: the one home game is against the Bruins).

After that, they'll have seven road games remaining versus five at home.

No two points on one night are more valuable than two points on another over an 82-game season, but the Canadiens will be putting tremendous pressure on themselves if they can't collect on this road trip.

Can Gauthier afford to not move now?