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Oilers Coach Calls Out His Team After Losing Streak: Goaltending Remains a Big Problem

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Daniel Lucente
March 5, 2025  (9:41)
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Edmonton Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch speaks to the media
Photo credit: Sportsnet video screenshot

The Edmonton Oilers just got blown out by the lowly Anaheim Ducks, and goaltending was once again not good, and Kris Knoblauch really called out his team.

The Edmonton Oilers trudged slowly, indifferently, and, according to head coach Kris Knoblauch, fragile in a 6-2 defeat of the Anaheim Ducks.

"We're a fragile team, when things aren't going well we lose our game," Knoblauch told reporters. "I thought our start is exactly how we needed to play, guys were ready to play, and then a little adversity and we're a shell of ourselves."


It wasn't always that way. Edmonton dominated the first 10 minutes, outshooting shooting Anaheim 6-1, and Leon Draisaitl's 45th goal provided them with a 1-0 advantage.

But Anaheim responded, scoring four times on a mere 11 shots against Calvin Pickard, so Knoblauch removed him in favor of Stuart Skinner for the final two periods, adding more fuel to the fire about the Oilers' goaltending issues before the trade deadline.

"It certainly wasn't the performance Calvin had in Carolina, with four goals in the first period," Knoblauch said. "You'd like a save or two, but I'd also like us to defend the dangerous areas of the ice a lot better than we did."


That was the game. The Oilers were never once really able to generate any momentum. Connor McDavid had a third-period goal to seal it 6-2, but he was clearly disappointed.

Knoblauch's post-game comments in the locker room were brutally harsh, blaming the team for a lack of urgency and confidence by a veteran unit that should know better. This is not a rebuilding young team, it's a veteran unit of championship quality.

Fans are frustrated with management's lack of addressing the goaltending

Once more, goaltending was the howling problem. Pickard finished the evening with a woeful .636 save percentage, and although Skinner performed better, neither provided them with consistency.

With the trade deadline approaching, it's clear the Oilers need an injection of goals if they're going to compete, but they also need some stability in the crease, a huge issue GM Stan Bowman may need to strongly think about fixing within the next two days.

Secondary depth scoring is also a problem, leaving it to McDavid and Draisaitl to carry the charge game after game. Knoblauch even conceded a lack of depth scoring is holding the team hostage.

"As good as they are, and they're fantastic, we need some other contributions from other guys stepping up a little more."

- Kris Knoblauch


The formula for success is apparent, but the clock is not in their favor. It's now up to GM Stan Bowman to address these deficiencies, much of which has been in goal, before it's too late.

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Oilers Coach Calls Out His Team After Losing Streak: Goaltending Remains a Big Problem

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