Tristan Jarry’s last two outings have given the Oilers something they haven’t had much of from him lately: reason to believe.
The veteran goaltender followed up Edmonton’s 4-3 shootout loss to the Detroit Red Wings on Oct. 26 with a 4-0 shutout over the Calgary Flames on Oct. 28, and those back-to-back performances at least suggest he may be finding his footing. It’s still a tiny sample, but Jarry looked like a goalie with his game back under him.
That’s a notable shift after a rough stretch in Edmonton. The Oilers’ trade for Jarry from the Pittsburgh Penguins on Dec. 12, 2025 drew plenty of criticism, especially because Edmonton sent Stuart Skinner and Brett Kulak the other way.
Kulak’s departure, in particular, bothered a lot of people. Jarry opened last season well enough with the Oilers, but an injury just six days into his time in Edmonton derailed that momentum, and he never really got it back.
He eventually lost the starting job to former Oilers goaltender Connor Ingram in a season that both Jarry and a lot of Edmonton fans would probably rather move on from.
This season started shakily too. Jarry dropped the opener 6-5 in overtime to the Vancouver Canucks, then lost the net to Devon Levi, who had been excellent before getting injured in the Oilers’ 6-5 win over the Carolina Hurricanes on Oct.
- Jarry’s next start, against the Toronto Maple Leafs, turned into Edmonton’s worst game of the season in a 7-2 loss.
That’s when the questions really started. With Levi out, the Oilers called up AHL farmhand Matt Tomkins from the Bakersfield Condors, and it looked fair to wonder whether Edmonton might have to lean in another direction. Instead, Jarry answered with two strong games and pushed the discussion back in his favor.
For now, he’s holding the fort until Levi and Frederik Andersen return from the injured reserve list. He’ll get at least the upcoming New York area road trip, and if this recent run sticks, it could create a very good problem for the Oilers. Edmonton spent plenty of time before the season talking about a three-goalie system, and now the real test is what happens once all three are healthy again.
Two games won’t wipe away the struggles that came before them. Jarry still has to prove he can string together consistent results over a longer stretch. But if he can get back to the form he showed with the Edmonton Oil Kings in junior and early in his Penguins career, that would work out well for everyone involved.
The Oilers don’t need Jarry to be perfect. They just need him to be steady.
If he can manage that, he can help change the tone around his own season and give Edmonton a better shot at chasing its bigger goal. For the first time in a while, there’s at least a little more belief than doubt.
In Other News...
Oilers Goalie Prospect Is Forcing A Bigger Pipeline Conversation
Daniel Salonen is starting to make the Oilers goalie pipeline look a little more interesting than it did on draft day. The 2025 sixth-round pick has settled in as Lukkos starter in Finlands Liiga, and his early work has turned heads for the right reasons. He has been sharp enough to stand out in a league where the average numbers are far less forgiving, and the underlying metrics have backed up what the eye test is seeing.
What makes the development notable for Edmonton is not just the results, but the way he is getting them. Salonen has shown quick feet and a strong ability to read plays, even as his hand movements continue to develop. For a prospect taken late, that kind of progress can change the conversation quickly, especially when he is earning the crease ahead of a more established option and giving the organization a reason to look closer at its long-term goaltending depth. [Read more 🡒]
Flames Suddenly Have A Morgan Frost Decision They Didn't Expect
The rumor mill around Edmonton has taken on a bigger star turn, with Nikita Kucherov suddenly surfacing in trade chatter tied to the Oilers. The idea has plenty of intrigue on its own, especially with the team already built around Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl and Evan Bouchard, but it also comes with an obvious challenge: making the money work in a way that would actually allow a deal to happen.
For Calgary, the ripple effect is more immediate. Morgan Frost had looked like a player who could be moved, but extension talks have now entered the picture and changed the tone around his future. What once seemed like a straightforward trade candidate has become a more complicated decision for the Flames, and for Edmonton fans watching the market, it is another reminder that the biggest names are only part of the story until a team can clear the path to land them. [Read more 🡒]
Oilers Turn To Matt Tomkins In A Spot Fans Did Not Expect
A sudden crease shuffle has pushed Matt Tomkins into the spotlight, with Mike Babcock saying the goaltender will make his Oilers debut against the New York Rangers. Edmonton had to reach down to AHL Bakersfield after Devon Levi was placed on injured reserve, and Tomkins was the emergency recall who suddenly found himself in line for a much bigger stage than anyone likely expected.
Tomkins is not arriving as a total unknown, either. He has previous NHL experience and only recently signed a two-year, two-way contract with Edmonton, giving the organization a bit of familiarity with him before this opportunity came up. For the Oilers, the immediate question is how the crease holds up in a spot that was not part of the original plan. [Read more 🡒]