If you caught Monday night’s game between the Oilers and Ducks, you might’ve done a double take during one wild sequence in front of the Edmonton net. Tristan Jarry, the Oilers’ newly acquired goaltender, looked like he’d suddenly forgotten how to skate - flailing, sliding, and trying to stay upright as the Ducks pressed in the offensive zone.
But this wasn’t a case of bad edgework or a blown assignment. Jarry had literally lost a blade - his right skate blade popped off mid-play, turning him into a one-legged goalie in the middle of a live-fire situation. And somehow, incredibly, he still made the save.
Yes, you read that right. With one functioning skate, Jarry managed to keep the puck out of the net.
It wasn’t pretty - more of a full-body sprawl than a textbook butterfly - but it got the job done. It was the kind of moment that makes goalies shake their heads and fans laugh in disbelief.
That save was one of 36 on the night for Jarry, who faced 40 shots from a Ducks team that didn’t go quietly. Edmonton came out on top, 7-4, and while the offense did its part, Jarry’s performance between the pipes was a major factor in the win.
This was just Jarry’s ninth game in an Oilers sweater since arriving via trade from Pittsburgh, and he’s now 6-2-1 with Edmonton. The numbers aren’t quite where he’d probably like them to be - his save percentage sits at 88.3%, a tick below his career average of 90.9% - but there’s reason to believe he’s still settling in and has room to climb.
What’s clear is that Jarry is already proving to be an upgrade in net for an Oilers team that’s been searching for consistency at the position. Even with a brief injury pause earlier in his Edmonton tenure, he’s provided stability - and in moments like Monday’s, a little chaos and creativity, too.
Improvisation isn’t something you often coach into a goalie, but Jarry showed he’s got the instincts and the presence of mind to battle, even when his gear isn’t cooperating. That kind of grit goes a long way in the crease - especially on a team with playoff aspirations.
It’s early, sure. But if Jarry can find his rhythm and bump that save percentage back toward his career norm, Edmonton might finally have the kind of goaltending backbone it’s been missing. And if he keeps making saves like that - blade or no blade - he’s going to win over a lot of fans in Oil Country.