Oilers Fall Flat in Another Missed Opportunity for a Three-Game Win Streak
For the ninth time this season, the Edmonton Oilers had a chance to string together three straight wins-and for the ninth time, they came up short. Thursday night’s 2-1 loss to the New Jersey Devils wasn’t just another L in the standings; it was a frustrating reminder of a pattern that’s plagued this team all year.
The Oilers looked flat for two full periods, only waking up in the third when it was already too late. Against a Devils squad playing the second half of a back-to-back, the Oilers had every reason to dictate the pace.
Instead, they let the game slip away early and couldn’t recover.
A Delayed Debut at Rogers Place for Jarry
Tristan Jarry finally made his home debut as an Oiler-39 days after being acquired back in mid-December. It was his 300th career NHL start, and it came on the heels of his first shutout in an Edmonton sweater last weekend in Vancouver.
The timing seemed perfect. The moment?
Not quite.
Jarry’s night was a mixed bag. He wasn’t perfect, but it’s tough to pin this one on him.
The first goal, from Arseny Gritsyuk, was one he’d probably want back-it deflected off him and trickled in. The second goal?
That was on a brutal line change that left the Devils’ fourth line with a clean look and an odd-man rush. Outside of that second-period meltdown by the skaters in front of him, Jarry was solid.
He even came up with a highlight-reel save on a shorthanded 2-on-1 that’s bound to get some airtime on the nightly recaps.
His final stat line-15 saves on 17 shots, an .882 save percentage-doesn’t tell the full story. The Oilers gave him little support for the first 40 minutes, and by the time they found their legs, the damage was done.
Jarry deserved better. The rest of the team?
Not so much.
Curtis Lazar Hits 600 Games the Hard Way
Curtis Lazar reached a major milestone Thursday night, suiting up for his 600th NHL game. And if you’ve followed his journey, you know those 600 games didn’t come easy.
Seven organizations. Injuries.
AHL stints. Trades.
A lot of miles logged just to stay in the league. But Lazar’s carved out a role for himself the hard way-by grinding it out and bringing energy every night.
Since arriving in Edmonton, Lazar has become a dependable piece of the fourth line. He’s not lighting up the scoresheet (3 goals, 2 assists), but he’s fast, physical, and relentless on the forecheck.
He plays like a guy who knows nothing is guaranteed, and that mindset shows up in every shift. For a player who many expected to be a depth option or a healthy scratch, Lazar has made himself hard to take out of the lineup.
No points in his 600th, but plenty of respect earned.
Two-Thirds of a Game Won’t Cut It
If you didn’t know which team was on the second half of a back-to-back, you’d have guessed it was the Oilers. Edmonton looked sluggish, sloppy, and disjointed through the first two periods.
Puck management was a mess-passes off target, turnovers in bad spots, and a general lack of urgency. It was a minor miracle they were only down 1-0 after 40 minutes.
The Devils added a second goal in the middle frame, and that proved to be the difference. Edmonton finally pushed back in the third, outshooting New Jersey 13-3 and generating a few quality chances.
They got one back, but couldn’t find the equalizer. Jake Allen held strong in net for the Devils, though it’s hard to say he was tested much until the late push.
Through two periods, the Oilers had just 10 shots on goal. That’s not going to cut it-especially against a team that had played the night before.
This game had echoes of the recent loss to the Islanders. A strong third period, a late push, but ultimately not enough.
And while the Oilers have played some solid hockey lately-including a dominant weekend and a competitive 1-0 loss to the Rangers-this kind of performance sets them back. It’s the inconsistency that stings the most.
At this point, the Oilers’ inability to win three straight feels like more than just a fluke. It’s a mental hurdle they haven’t cleared all season. And until they do, they’ll keep spinning their wheels in the middle of the pack.
Up Next: A Chance to Reset
The Oilers will look to regroup quickly and find some consistency before this trend becomes more than just a frustrating stat. The pieces are there, the talent is obvious-but the execution?
That’s where the work needs to happen. Because in a tight playoff race, every missed opportunity counts.
And if they want to be taken seriously come spring, they’ll need to prove they can string together more than just a couple of wins at a time.