The Edmonton Oilers faced a tough night on Sunday, falling to the Montreal Canadiens 4-1, a game where goalie Calvin Pickard admitted the team’s performance included some regrettable moments. Pickard, who made 23 saves, including five on breakaways, said after the game, "We were just screwing around...". His comments came after a game where the Oilers struggled with giveaways and were largely stifled by Canadiens' netminder Jakub Dobeš.
The loss followed an unusual situation for Pickard, who also saw his goaltending partner become the subject of trade rumors fueled by social media speculation earlier in the week. A seemingly innocent post-game hug between Pickard and Stuart Skinner after a win against the Seattle Kraken ignited the rumor mill, with fans wondering if it was a farewell gesture. Skinner addressed the situation, stating that the hug was simply a show of support for Pickard, who had played well but allowed a late goal. He added that the two share a close bond and enjoy playing together, dismissing any trade implications.
Despite Skinner's denial, the rumors highlighted the pressures and scrutiny that come with playing in a Canadian market like Edmonton. Skinner acknowledged the intense reactions, stating, "It's part of the business we're all in".
Against the Canadiens, the Oilers displayed bad habits, according to Head Coach Kris Knoblauch. "We were feeling confident. We'd scored a lot of goals, were starting to win, and now some bad habits are creeping into our game when things are going well," Knoblauch said. He specifically pointed to the numerous breakaways and two-on-one opportunities conceded, deeming them "not sustainable". Mattias Ekholm echoed this sentiment, stating that Pickard's performance prevented the scoreline from being even worse. "Without Picks tonight, it could have been a lot worse," Ekholm said.
The Oilers found themselves down 2-0 after two periods, with Ivan Demidov and Joe Veleno scoring for Montreal. Zach Hyman scored on the power play late in the third period, but Alexandre Texier quickly responded for the Canadiens, restoring their three-goal lead. The Oilers went 0-3-3 in the second game of back-to-back series this season.
The Oilers will look to rebound as they continue their five-game road trip with a game against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday. Meanwhile, they hope to tighten up defensively and eliminate the costly mistakes that plagued them in Montreal.
