Oilers Rolling in the Pacific, But Struggling Where It Counts Most
The Edmonton Oilers are sitting comfortably near the top of the Pacific Division standings. On paper, things look good. But dig a little deeper, and a troubling pattern emerges-one that could haunt them come playoff time.
Against the NHL’s elite, particularly the Central Division’s heavyweights-Colorado, Dallas, and Minnesota-Edmonton hasn’t just come up short. They’ve been flat-out overwhelmed.
The record? A glaring 0-6.
And it’s not just the number in the loss column-it’s how those losses have unfolded.
Let’s rewind. A 9-1 thrashing at the hands of the Avalanche back in November.
An 8-3 collapse and a 4-3 shootout loss to the Stars. Then came the Wild: a 1-0 heartbreaker, followed by a 5-2 loss, and capped off last night with a 7-3 drubbing.
That’s six games, six defeats, and a combined scoreline that paints a pretty clear picture. Outside of that narrow 1-0 loss-arguably their best showing of the bunch-the Oilers have looked outmatched in every facet of the game.
And it’s the same script every time.
Against the top-tier teams, Edmonton’s speed gap becomes glaring. Their defense, already under scrutiny, struggles to contain high-skill, quick-transition offenses.
The goaltending? No matter who’s between the pipes, the numbers have been ugly.
It’s not just about being beaten-it’s about being exposed.
Take last night’s loss to Minnesota. The Oilers were in it early.
They traded chances, created some looks, and for a moment, it felt like they might hang around. But that moment didn’t last.
Minnesota’s special teams were sharper, their goaltending steadier, and their pace simply too much. As the game wore on, the gap widened-on the scoreboard and in execution.
Jack Roslovic did manage to get one on the board for Edmonton, but by then, the outcome was all but sealed.
After the game, Tristan Jarry-who was pulled after allowing five goals on 20 shots-didn’t sugarcoat it. "It's tough," he said.
"The chances we’re giving up, some of the shots, they’re tough. A lot of Grade A’s, a lot of breakdowns...
It’s a whole team game."
He’s not wrong. The breakdowns are systemic. And while Jarry’s numbers haven’t been flattering, it’s hard to pin this all on the goaltenders when the team in front of them is consistently giving up high-danger looks to the league’s best.
So where does that leave Edmonton?
They’re built to win in the Pacific, and in fairness, that might be enough to get them into the postseason with a decent seed. But once they’re there, they won’t be playing Anaheim or San Jose. They’ll be staring down the very teams that have made them look pedestrian all year.
Craig MacTavish recently suggested the Oilers might need another star. Some believe the missing piece is a third-line center.
Others point to the blue line, where a steady, stay-at-home presence could help stabilize things. And yes, despite the offseason moves in goal, the crease still feels like a question mark.
Whatever the answer is, the Olympic break offers a much-needed window for the front office to take a hard look at what’s working-and what’s not. Because the current formula isn’t built for a deep run.
Not against the Avalanche. Not against the Stars.
Not against the Wild.
The Oilers have the talent to hang with anyone on their best night. But in this league, consistency and structure win in May and June. Right now, Edmonton’s still searching for both.