Ice hockey is a team sport. While that’s the most obvious statement, ask any Edmonton Oilers fan, and you hear just how much they are missing a particular individual. No points for guessing, and that individual is forward Connor McDavid. So what did the Edmonton Oilers star do? Unfortunately for the fans, it was his absence that echoed throughout the match.

The fans felt McDavid’s absence every time the Oilers created a scoring chance against the Washington Capitals. Despite Capitals goalie Logan Thompson having to make 30 stops against the Oilers’ offensive side, it was the Capitals who won the game 3-2 on the final buzzer. Tuesday night’s game was the first of three games McDavid has to sit out due to his suspension, and the fans are already lashing out.

Connor McDavid’s absence de-fanged the Oilers’ offense

As already prefaced by the sheer number of saves Thompson had to make, it’s clear that the Oilers didn’t lose for lack of trying. Instead, several fans pointed out how McDavid’s absence led to the Oilers’ attack losing its sting. Some simply expressed their frustration, throwing nuance to the wayside. “Without Connor McDavid can’t even win a match. Horrible game!” commented one fan.

Meanwhile, others were far more critical in pointing out exactly what was lacking every time the Edmonton Oilers closed in on the Washington Capitals goal post. The fans complained about how Leon Draisaitl, Corey Perry, and others failed to convert those chances into goals. The fans especially compared the poor decisions made during the multiple power plays the Oilers earned.

“The PP is dead without Connor,” commented one fan who saw the Edmonton team fail to capitalize on after gaining the advantage. Others pointed out how instead of shooting the puck, players such as defenseman Evan Bouchard were keen on passing it around. While it was clear the oilers were trying to expose gaps through the play, it didn’t work.

Connor McDavid’s absence felt palpable, as some fans had guessed the Oilers would lose the game at the end of the second period. “Oilers are going to lose this game despite spotting 20+ shots through the second period. Capitals goalie is going to steal this one.” commented one fan. The fan couldn’t have been more right, as goals from Draisaitl and Perry in the first and third periods weren’t enough to see the Oilers through on home ice.

Furious fans breathed fire on two Edmonton Oilers stars

The Edmonton Oilers fans were brutal when it came to pointing out the faults of Evan Bouchard on the ice. Fans berated Bouchard for failing to capitalize on the chances during the power play or otherwise. Many blamed the players for passing too much, not being on target, or simply not pulling the trigger when the time seemed to be right.

“Someone tell Bouchard you don’t get points for hitting shin pads,” commented one netizen. And while many missed Connor McDavid‘s striking and goal-scoring prowess on the field, scores of fans blamed the Edmonton Oilers goalie Stuart Skinner for the close 3-2 loss on January 21. That’s because, despite having to defend the net far less than Washington’s goalie, Skinner let the puck clip past him three times.

Meanwhile, Logan Thompson was in blistering form. Thompson entered the match with a record of 93 days from 95 shots in his last four games. By the end of the night, that record barely looked any less impressive, as the goalie let only two more get past him. “I’m honestly not mad. I’m not even disappointed,” wrote one fan with a dollop of sarcasm.

“This is more-or-less the reality as long as Stuart Skinner is our goalie. It is what it is,” added the fan, pointing out the downturn Skinner has been experiencing. Skinner has been unable to keep a clean sheet in four of his last five outings, including the Washington Capitals clash. In most matches, the veteran goalkeeper has concerned three goals.

Thankfully, some fans were a little forging of the team lacking Connor McDavid. “It’s all good. It was a good game. Definitely missed McDavid on the power play zone entries. But we’ll bounce back Thurs. #LetsGoOilers” one fan wrote. However, Connor McDavid will once again be absent for Thursday’s game against the Vancouver Canucks.

Since it was the cross-check during a clash with the Canucks that got McDavid suspended, winning on Thursday may give the Oilers a sense of revenge. Yet will they be able to hold the first against Vancouver? Write your thoughts in the comments.