The Edmonton Oilers' season has been a rollercoaster, marked by inconsistency and a struggle to live up to expectations despite back-to-back Stanley Cup Final appearances. After a sluggish start to the 2025-26 season, sitting at 4-4-1 through nine games, speculation swirled about the root cause of the team's woes. Was it the absence of assistant coach Paul Coffey from the bench, a scapegoat theory that gained traction on social media? Or were deeper issues at play, such as the high number of off-season changes to both the roster and coaching staff?
The team's struggles were multifaceted. Goaltending had been inconsistent, with neither Stuart Skinner nor Calvin Pickard performing to their full potential. The defense, typically a strong suit, showed cracks, with key players like Evan Bouchard and Mattias Ekholm underperforming. Offensively, even the star power of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl seemed muted, with both players not quite reaching their usual dominant levels.
However, a recent game against the Utah Mammoth may have signaled a turning point. After falling behind 2-0 early in the game, the Oilers erupted for five goals in the second period, ultimately securing a 6-3 victory. This win snapped a two-game losing streak and halted the Mammoth's impressive seven-game win streak.
While the victory was a team effort, several individual performances stood out. McDavid found the net twice, a welcome sign for a player who, by his standards, had been having a quiet season. Bouchard contributed three assists, showcasing the offensive potential the team needs from him. Depth players like Isaac Howard, Ty Emberson, and Mattias Ekholm also scored, providing crucial secondary scoring that the Oilers will need going forward.
The Oilers' offense finally woke up, scoring without relying on power play goals. As Draisaitl and McDavid are consistent 100-point scorers, they should not be struggling to find the net. The Oilers need consistent depth scoring to remain competitive and cannot rely solely on their stars to score.
Despite the encouraging win, some concerns remain. Skinner, while securing the win, had a save percentage of just .870. The Oilers also allowed the Mammoth to generate a number of quality chances, a trend they need to address. The team needs to sharpen up on these issues if they hope to make another deep run into the postseason.
The Oilers' decisive victory over the Utah Mammoth could be the end of their struggles. The team's ability to overcome a two-goal deficit and secure a dominant win suggests a renewed sense of determination. Whether this win truly marks a change in the Oilers' season remains to be seen. However, if they can build on this performance and address their remaining weaknesses, they may be able to recapture the form that took them to the Stanley Cup Final in the past two years.
