The Edmonton Oilers are in a tough spot with their goaltending, currently ranked 31st out of 32 NHL teams. This isn't entirely unexpected, but it's certainly a wake-up call for the team.
With the league's average save percentage dipping to .896, the lowest in 33 years, even elite goalies are feeling the heat. Unfortunately, this trend hasn't provided any relief for the Oilers.
The New York Islanders, on the other hand, are leading the pack with Ilya Sorokin and David Rittich forming the top goaltending duo. Meanwhile, the Ottawa Senators are struggling at the bottom of the rankings, with Linus Ullmark and Leevi Meriläinen posting the worst goals saved above expected in the league.
The Oilers' goaltending woes are partly due to their carousel of netminders this season. Stuart Skinner, Calvin Pickard, Tristan Jarry, and Connor Ingram have all seen time between the pipes, but none have managed a save percentage above .900.
Skinner was traded away, and Pickard's early struggles led to him being placed on waivers. Jarry, acquired from the Penguins, hasn't found his groove in Edmonton, posting a .900 save percentage or better in just four of his 14 starts.
Ingram, brought in from Utah, is also seeking a fresh start.
It's not solely on the goalies, though. Edmonton's defense has been shaky, prompting moves like bringing in Connor Murphy and Jason Dickinson, and even enlisting former assistant coach Paul Coffey to stabilize the blue line. However, the Skinner-for-Jarry trade hasn't panned out as hoped, with Skinner thriving in Pittsburgh, who sit at 18th in the rankings.
The Oilers' ranking raises questions about whether their goaltending is truly worse than other struggling teams like Vancouver, St. Louis, or Toronto. If Jarry and Ingram can't elevate their play, a third consecutive Stanley Cup Final appearance for the Oilers seems unlikely.