If there is any NHL team that’s a crowd favorite, it’s the Edmonton Oilers. The Oilers were last year’s finalist, and the fanbase desperately wants to see their favorite team in the finals again. The Oilers had broken their 5-game losing streak briefly in games against the Canes, the Canadiens, and the Stars, but took losses alternately from the Anaheim Ducks and the Sabres. Looks decent, right? Maybe it is for us but not for the Oilers coach, Kris Knoblauch.

When reporters asked the Oilers coach about the team’s past year’s experience and how the team is looking to go forward, Kris pointed out that their major strength also doubles down as a weakness. “I think one of our strengths is also a weakness for us,” Knoblauch said. “One is I think that we can handle adversity extremely well no matter what happens we just deal with it. And you saw that last year in the playoffs many times down three nothing to the Florida Panthers, the Dallas series numerous times,” added Knoblauch.

The coach further stated that, “I think we handle that really well, but on the flip side is when you’re really good at handling adversity and you’re calm, that often you’re missing that switch to turn it on, and all right, we need to push a little bit harder.” Talking about the game, the Oilers lost to the Buffalo Sabres in the third period. Buffalo Sabres, who are last in the Atlantic division, scored goals in every period, one after another. The Oilers struggled at the start but tied the score in the 2nd period. However, they ultimately lost the game. But you know what the main problem is? That the Oilers are currently facing, other than what Kris Knoblauch said? It’s the goalie position.

With Stuart Skinner‘s absence in the previous games, Calvin Pickard showed tremendous potential, especially in the Carolina Hurricanes game on March 1. Currently, the Oilers have decided to march on with two goalies. While talking about the current goalie situation in the Edmonton team, former NHL goalie Carter Hutton said, “I also truly believe that if you don’t have a goalie that the players are confident in and know that is going to get the job done night in, night out, it’s very hard to win hockey games in this league,” while talking to Bob Stauffer of the Oilers Now. 

And well, the stats of Stuart Skinner? He had missed three goals in the previous game. His overall save percentage is .896, which is 36th in the league right now. Talking about Calvin Pickard, his save percentage is also the same as Skinner’s, and he ties for the rank with Skinner.  The Oilers may look safe and secure at 2nd place now, but it won’t be too long before they are forced to consider ‘what ifs’. Losing this rank in the division to the Los Angeles Kings or the Calgary Flames might become a possibility. They are precariously close to Kris Knoblauch’s team’s stats. 

Edmonton Oilers’ playoff possibilities under Connor McDavid’s leadership

In just the Pacific division, according to the ‘playoffsstatus’, the Oilers have only an 18% chance of surpassing the Golden Knights to become 1st in the division and clinch the playoffs spot. Chances aren’t looking up at this moment. But, hold up, what are their chances of grabbing the 2nd spot? Don’t take a wild guess, we’ll tell you… just 41%. And for the third spot, it’s 34%. The Golden Knights have 83 points right now, and they still have 18 more games to play. And the Oilers have, so far, managed to earn 78 points. 

While they are still in discussion for the playoffs with a 41% chance of retaining their 2nd spot in the division, the Edmonton Oilers are not really showcasing good potential since the 4-nations face-off. After February 25, the Oilers have lost four games out of six. No pressure, but pressure is on the Oilers captain, Connor McDavid. Fans are calling him “Not good enough”. After the Sabres game loss, one fan took to X, “There are obvious problems in the dressing room . A rudderless leader, no direction and shoddy netminding… not a recipe for a championship”. 

Well, there aren’t many games left on the horizon. The Edmonton Oilers need to step up their game if they want another shot at the Stanley Cup Finals! With the regular season winding down, each point counts, and they can’t afford to take their foot off the gas. If they want to replicate last year’s glory run, they’ll have to clean up their mess, stay consistent, and bring on their A-game every night.