“I feel like I like our moves feel like we’re in a good spot. That’s all we can ask for,” Connor McDavid said after the Oilers acquired Trent Frederic, Max Jones and Jake Walman. The Edmonton Oilers star felt good about the last-minute additions as his team has been in a rough patch. And for a moment, it seemed the team did turn the corner to a smoother patch. But did they?

After beating the Canadiens and the Stars, the Oilers have failed against an opponent on a six-game skid. Yes, you read that right. The last time the Sabres won a game before tonight, the calendar still read February 2025. It would be an understatement to say the fans are unhappy, and they’ve even found the Oiler to shoulder the blame for this loss. It’s none other than the team’s goalie.

“The Sabres were on a 6-game losing streak… then they played Stuart Skinner’s Oilers…” one Edmonton Oilers fan commented on the team being one step behind. As explained, the “#Oilers can’t find another equalizer & fall 3-2 in Buffalo. Road trip continues Thursday in New Jersey,” read the post. Yet, it may be safe to say the fans aren’t holding their breath in excitement.

The Edmonton Oilers fell behind in the very first period, despite skating onto that ice as the favorites. While the Oilers equalized in the second period, the Sabres responded by taking the lead once again. So Connor McDavid’s chase continued to chase the score line despite having plenty of puck time to their name. Unfortunately, the team made some crucial mistakes.

Even Coach Kris Knoblauch admitted to his team’s lapses on the ice. “I think we controlled most of the play, had a lot of time in the offensive zone and had more chances,” said the Oilers coach. He was right, because the Oilers forwards hit 34 shots on target against Sabres goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen. Maybe that’s why the fans were so furious with the Oilers goalie.

Edmonton Oilers fans express playoff doubts

While the Oilers will make it to the playoffs, tonight’s performance and the recent slump have planted seeds of doubt among the fanbase. Yet, they directed the brunt of their complaints against Stuart Skinner. “Well done. You wouldn’t want to win the division or anything. Only scored 2 goals all from the defence, and another game with sv % below .900,” read one fan’s sarcastic jibe.

However, the Edmonton Oilers supporter simply pointed out the facts. The veteran goalie ended up with a .870 sv% after being unable to stop three of the 23 shots against him. In contrast, Luukkonen had a .941 sv%. However, it wasn’t like the Oilers’ defense was firing on all cylinders, either. In fact, it was a serious defensive miscue that led to the Sabres winning goal.

The Oilers’ defense fumbled the puck while trying to clear it when the Sabres’ Tage Thompson and Josh Norris capitalized on the mistake. Norris assisted while Thomson smashed the puck into the back of the net with Skinner helplessly scrambling to stop the shot in vain. And despite 16:40 remaining on the clock, the offense couldn’t find an equalizer either.

Even Coach Knoblauch admitted to the lapses his team made on the ice. “What we didn’t do is just [manage] mistakes that we made. You look at the turnovers that led to scoring chances off the rush,” the Edmonton Oilers coach told reporters after the loss. Meanwhile, some fans were tired of watching the Oilers unable to break this pattern. “Same old story… Painful to watch,” commented one fan.

Yet others resorted to sarcasm. “Can we forfeit our playoff spot and give it San Jose in exchange for their spot in the standings?” one ice hockey fan commented, seemingly losing faith in his team’s chances at the playoffs. “I honestly think I would take a top 4 pick than waste 1 week of my life watching a playoff team with ‘Stuart skinner’ as their starter,” explained the fan.

The Sharks have hit rock bottom, occupying the last place on the Western Conference and the overall league table. That means they stand to gain the most when the NHL Draft rolls around. Despite making additions, fans think that the Oilers are better off doing more rebuilding ahead of next season than disappointing their supporters with lackluster performances.

Finally, some even blamed themselves for thinking the Oilers would dominate and win the Stanley Cup this year. “I thought this team was winning the CUP this year! What a horrible prediction by me!” lamented a netizen. While the season isn’t over just yet, this was not the start that the Oilers were looking for at the beginning of their four-game trip on the road.

They’ll go again on Thursday against the Devils at Prudential Center. How do you think the Edmonton Oilers will fare? Will the team iron out the kinks and get their mojo back, or will the pattern continue? Write your views in the comments.