The Edmonton Oilers are clinging to the last playoff spot in the Pacific Division, even with a 4-4-1 record since the Olympic break. Goaltending has been a persistent issue, and surprisingly, it wasn't addressed at the NHL trade deadline.
Earlier in the season, Edmonton acquired Tristan Jarry, but his performance has been underwhelming since joining the team. Coach Kris Knoblauch has now tapped Connor Ingram as the starting goalie.
Knoblauch noted that Ingram will take the lead in the net, but emphasized the importance of Jarry's role down the stretch. Improvement for Jarry, Knoblauch mentioned, begins with building confidence in practice.
Jarry, who was traded from the Pittsburgh Penguins in December, has struggled with a .854 save percentage and a 4.17 goals-against average over 15 games. According to MoneyPuck, he's ranked 66th out of 92 qualified goalies in Goals Saved Above Expected, with a -3.7 rating.
The Oilers have reached the Stanley Cup Final in the past two seasons, only to fall to the Florida Panthers each time. Goaltending has been a hot topic in Alberta, as Stuart Skinner was outmatched by Sergei Bobrovsky in those series.
After a shaky start this year, Edmonton traded Skinner for Jarry. Since his move to the Penguins, Skinner has slightly improved his goals-against average from 2.83 to 2.72.
Ingram, who was traded from the Utah Mammoth before the season, has posted a .891 save percentage and a 2.79 goals-against average in 20 appearances. These numbers might just be enough to let Edmonton's powerful offense shine in the playoffs, potentially leading them to a long-awaited Stanley Cup victory. However, Jarry remains an option, and Knoblauch will need to decide who to trust as the playoffs approach.
The Oilers are set to face the Nashville Predators on Sunday night.