It may be a new NHL season, but the Edmonton Oilers are already displaying the same problem that has plagued them repeatedly over the last few seasons.
The Oilers are 1-4-0-1 through six games. This is a terrible start for a team that is supposed to contend for the Stanley Cup this season.
If you are an Oilers fan, you know what has hurt them this season. If you do not follow the team closely, then you are about to find out why this team has not been able to get over the hump the last two seasons.
Much like last season and the season before, the team’s goaltending is letting the team down in a big way to start the season. The team has given up 27 goals so far, which is the second-worst mark in the league, and they are allowing 4.50 goals-against per game, which is also second-worst in the league.
Yes, the team’s defense obviously has not been great. They give up a lot of high-quality scoring chances and do other things that do not help their goaltenders out when they need it.
With that said, this team’s goaltending has been dreadful. Jack Campbell, the goaltender they gave a big contract to prior to last season, is currently 1-3 with a 4.35 goals-against average and a .878 save percentage.
Campbell, 31, has not come close to living up to his contract. He struggled last season as well, as he finished the year with a record of 21-9-0-4 with a 3.41 goals-against average, a .888 save percentage, and one shutout.
Yes, Campbell’s record last season is not bad, but he got a lot of help from his team’s high-octane offense. That has not happened this season, as the team is currently 20th in the league in goals scored.
The team’s other goaltender, Stuart Skinner, has not been much better. Skinner, 24, is 0-1-0-1 with a 4.29 goals-against average and a .814 save percentage.
It can be said that Skinner is not living up to his contract as well. Last season, the club signed Skinner to a three-year, $7.8 million contract extension, and so far, all he has done is have one good regular season while not playing well in the postseason and getting off to an awful start this year.
It is very easy to use the excuse that the team is struggling because their franchise player, Connor McDavid, is currently out of the lineup. This guy lights up the scoreboard every night he plays, and with him out of the lineup, the team’s offense certainly takes a bit of a hit.
With that said, this team’s goaltending has been atrocious. Neither Campbell nor Skinner is coming up with the big save when the team needs one, and they are both allowing soft goals, something that always kills teams.
If the Oilers want to be true Cup contenders and really give themselves a fair chance to win it all, their goaltenders need to be A LOT better. The question is and will always be – can they?
ITR 39: Conference Finals – Inside The Rink
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