The Edmonton Oilers seem to be in denial about their rough start to the season. Despite the players insisting they’re close to regaining the form that propelled them to within an hour of the Stanley Cup Finals last season, their recent performances paint a different picture. They’ve lost five key games against top teams—Winnipeg, Dallas, Carolina, New Jersey, and Vegas—without a single victory, and their wins have mostly come against teams with losing records.
While the team believes they’re close to turning things around, there are clear cracks showing. Coach Kris Knoblauch avoids quantifying their progress, only acknowledging that their current record, six wins in 14 games, is far from acceptable. Inconsistent play has cost them in crucial moments, particularly against Vegas where a solid game flipped in the final minutes due to costly mistakes.
The Oilers struggle to measure up to Cup-contending teams. Knoblauch has highlighted good efforts without results, citing losses to Dallas and Winnipeg. Currently, the Oilers are performing at around 40% of their potential, ranking low in multiple categories—goals scored, goals allowed, special teams, and physical stats—despite a strong faceoff percentage.
Special teams, typically a strong point for the Oilers, have been surprisingly lackluster. Their penalty kill has conceded too many goals, putting them at a disadvantage early in games. Meanwhile, the power play, previously a reliable scoring avenue, is failing to deliver. Forward Zach Hyman notes they’re “right there,” yet the special teams’ inefficiency has led to many losses in close games.
Knoblauch has emphasized the team’s need to draw penalties by playing harder in the offensive zone, but their current lack of pressure hasn’t been effective. The Oilers also struggle with scoring, with several forwards collectively producing few goals despite ample shots on target. Knoblauch didn’t anticipate offense being such a problem, and Draisaitl, the team’s leading scorer, believes fewer power plays are impacting their confidence with the puck.
The Oilers are facing significant obstacles, both in special teams and scoring consistency. With a tough schedule ahead, they’re under pressure to find solutions fast.
