The Edmonton Oilers are reeling after a disheartening 8-3 defeat at home against the Dallas Stars on Tuesday night. The loss, which saw the Oilers fall to a record of 10-10-5, was particularly concerning as it highlighted glaring issues across all areas of the team. Following the game, star players Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl offered candid assessments of the Oilers' struggles, expressing frustration and a lack of immediate answers.
The Stars dominated the game from the outset, establishing a 4-0 lead in the first period, which prompted the Oilers to replace starting goalie Stuart Skinner with Calvin Pickard. However, the change in netminder did little to stem the tide, as Dallas continued to pile on the goals. Seven different Stars players recorded multiple points, underscoring the depth of Edmonton's defensive woes. Connor Clattenburg, Evan Bouchard, and Jack Roslovic managed to score for the Oilers, but their efforts were ultimately futile.
"I don't know. I don't have any answers for you tonight," McDavid admitted to the media after the game. He pointed to the team's struggles with puck possession, which led to extended periods of time spent in their own defensive zone. Despite the grim situation, McDavid maintained a semblance of optimism, stating, "We've still got confidence, I mean, I know it doesn't seem like it, but there's still an overarching belief that we'll figure it out. Obviously, doesn't look that way right now, but at least I still feel it".
Draisaitl echoed McDavid's sentiments of frustration, stating, "Not sure. Don't really have an answer right now". He didn't hold back expressing his concern about the team's overall performance nearly 30 games into the season: "It's very concerning. Everything's very concerning, though. We're nearly 30 games in, and still don't seem to have it down or know what we are. I don't really know what to say. It's just not good enough right now". Draisaitl also emphasized the need for immediate improvement, declaring, "The time is now. Like right now, tomorrow. We've just got to be better. It's very simple, just have to be better".
Adding to the Oilers' problems, the team's goaltending has come under scrutiny. However, Draisaitl defended Skinner and Pickard, attributing the blame to the team's porous defense. "What are they supposed to do?" Draisaitl questioned, continuing, "We're giving up Grade A look after Grade A look. You can't expect a goalie to stop every single one of them and win the game 3-1. It doesn't work like that. We just have to be so much better for them". McDavid supported this sentiment, saying it’s tough for goalies to look good when the team in front of them isn’t playing well.
Coach Kris Knoblauch acknowledged the deep frustration within the team but denied that the players had "checked out". He said that deep discussions would be held to address the issues and prioritize necessary fixes. "There are a lot of things I'm concerned about," Knoblauch said. "You go through the checklist of what we're doing – our breakouts, our forecheck, our defending, our emotion – and there are a lot of things to fix".
The Oilers' struggles extend beyond just one game. They have allowed a league-high 95 goals this season and are searching for consistency in all areas of their game. The team's power play, usually a strong point, has also faltered. With the team currently sitting at 10-10-5, changes are needed to turn the season around. The Oilers will look to regroup and address their deficiencies before their next game against the Seattle Kraken on Saturday.
