Mike Babcock didn’t exactly shut the door on a three-goalie setup in Edmonton.
Speaking ahead of Wednesday’s game against the Philadelphia Flyers, the Oilers coach spent plenty of time fielding questions about his team’s goaltending. He credited both Devon Levi and Tristan Jarry for the way they’ve played, but he also pointed to the group in front of them, saying the Oilers have been better structurally and that’s helped the goalies look good.
That’s where the conversation gets interesting. Frederik Andersen is still about a month and a half away from returning, according to Babcock, and the Oilers have known that for a while. What they may not have expected was for Levi and Jarry to both be performing at this level at the same time.
That creates a good problem, but not a simple one.
“I don’t think Freddy’s going to have much trouble playing good,” said Babcock. “He’ll just get his opportunity in the rotation and then they’ll work it out.”
That “work it out” line leaves plenty of room for interpretation. A three-man rotation is possible, and there’s obvious value in having that kind of depth if injuries hit or someone cools off.
But managing three goalies is never clean. Practice reps get squeezed, one guy can end up sitting too long, and eventually there’s the possibility another team comes looking for help.
Andersen was never brought in to carry the load. He knew when he signed in Edmonton that he was looking at fewer than 20 games, and maybe even fewer than that if Levi keeps rolling and Jarry keeps building on his bounce-back season. That raises the obvious question: can the Oilers really pull one of their current goalies for a veteran who was always supposed to be more of a Plan C?
For now, Edmonton has time to sort that out. Babcock said Andersen is still a month and a half away, and the Oilers are still trying to learn exactly what they have in Levi and Jarry as a tandem. By the trade deadline, they’ll likely want to be active, and a proven goalie could become a useful chip in the mix.
Jarry gets the start against the Flyers on Wednesday night. If he turns in another strong outing, the Oilers may be staring at a real debate over who their No. 1 is.
In Other News...
Oilers Escaped Again But One Problem Is Starting To Loom
Zach Hyman gave Edmonton the kind of lift it needed in a 3-2 overtime win over the Philadelphia Flyers, and the Oilers kept their strong start rolling at 14-3-3. Tristan Jarry also turned in a solid night in goal, helping Edmonton escape with two points in a game that still had enough loose moments to leave a familiar aftertaste.
Mike Babcocks concern afterward was not about the result so much as the defensive lapses that kept the Flyers in it. With a six-game road trip coming up and Toronto on deck on November 14, the Oilers are carrying a good record and a growing reminder that the margin for error can disappear fast if the details do not tighten up. [Read more 🡒]
Oilers Escape Flyers But This Win Will Split Fans
The Oilers needed overtime to get past Philadelphia 3-2, and the result came with enough good and bad to keep the postgame conversation lively. Zach Hyman gave Edmonton a major boost with two goals, including his first multi-goal game of the season, while Tristan Jarry made a string of key saves to keep the Flyers from taking control when the game tightened up.
Evan Bouchard eventually finished it in overtime, giving Edmonton the extra point and a win that felt more like a survival test than a clean statement. For a team still trying to find a steadier rhythm, the night offered plenty to like, but also enough uneven stretches to leave fans debating what mattered more: the comeback feel, the goaltending, or the way the game had to be rescued late. [Read more 🡒]
Oilers Suddenly Have A Goalie Debate Fans Wont Mind
The first 20 games have given Edmonton something every contender wants and almost never gets for free: dependable goaltending from two different netminders. Devon Levi and Tristan Jarry have both settled in well enough that the Oilers have built an early-season cushion in the crease, with Levi going 8-1-0 and Jarry adding a 5-1-3 start while the team has piled up wins behind them.
Mike Babcock has noticed the difference, and the broader picture is just as encouraging for Edmonton. The structure in front of the goalies has helped keep shots manageable, which makes the current debate less about a problem and more about a good thing the Oilers will have to sort through as the season goes on. [Read more 🡒]