If the idea was to use Raffi Torres and Jarret Stoll as a couple of jumper cables to provide a jolt to the Edmonton Oilers, it left them more stunned than energized.
Banishing Torres and Stoll to the press box for being the two most guilty parties in turning a 2-0 lead into a 4-2 loss to Pittsburgh didn't prevent the Oilers from gassing another game much the same.
The Oilers gave up two goals in 23 seconds against the Penguins and two goals in 57 seconds to lose 4-3 to the St. Louis Blues.
"You look at the third periods and we give up four in one game and three in the other. That's seven goals at home in two periods. That was our undoing," said MacTavish.
"Against Pittsburgh we contributed to our undoing. Tonight we were victimized by breaks," he suggested.
Either way, this was a team three-points out of a playoff position when Sidney Crosby came to town.
They blew two games they damn sure should have won.
Now they head out on the road to Dallas, St. Louis and Detroit with the odds of them dropping back to last place a lot more likely than moving up into playoff contention.
Asked if "giving up" two points this night by humiliating and embarrassing Torres and Stoll was a move he made believing it would turn into six or seven points down the road with the possible residual effect, MacTavish looked at the questioner like he was loopy.
"I analyzed it from 1,000 perspectives and decided that, based on their play, we wouldn't be giving up the game tonight."
That said, he added "I hope it does have a residual benefit."
You could make a case that the two guys who stepped into their spots - Sam Gagner and Robert Nilsson - both played better than the two forwards who got the hook.
Gagner was given his first chance to play his natural position as a centre in the NHL on the same day the Oilers made it official that he'll be staying here and not going Team Canada for the World Junior.
Gagner made the play of the day to set up Nilsson for a goal to bring the Oilers back from 3-1 and give themselves a chance to get to overtime and the shootout where he's been brilliant.
Gagner had three shots on goal and played 16:01. Nilsson, had five shots on net and played 15:24. They were both plus one.
"I thought they stepped up and did a nice job in this situation," said MacTavish.
Also, as a result of the move, Liam Reddox was brought up to play his first NHL game. He almost scored on his first shift. While he only played 5:55 he played well enough.
"As crotchety as you get coaching in the NHL it's great to see a guy come in so excited about playing his first NHL game that he's bouncing off the wall," he said.
MacTavish said he didn't make the moves to take Torres and Stoll out of the lineup to achieve some sort of ripple effect on the team.
"I didn't give it too much thought when the game was starting," was how he put it.
MacTavish made Torres a healthy scratch for his well documented inconsistencies. He said way back in training camp that Torres was going to be on a short leash this season. And he gave that leash a good strong tug by pulling him out of the lineup after playing 215 consecutive games.
Stoll was provided a seat in the press box to deliver the message that he's had 30 games to come anywhere near his form prior to missing all those games at the end of last season with a concussion and hasn't come close. MacTavish is hoping shock therapy is a cure for post post-concussion syndrome.
No problem with either of those moves.
No problem, in Torres case, if a trade follows if the Oilers continue to not have a clue what he's going to give them from one game to the next.
Stoll was on his way to being a star until he was hurt last year and is an entirely different story.
MacTavish said the message he was delivering is that "it's a privilege to be in that locker room putting that sweater on."
He said the two "are certainly salvageable."
Maybe one.
