Oilers coach and Corey Perry get brutally honest about goaltending after loss to Anaheim Ducks
Photo credit: Edmonton Oilers Raw
The Edmonton Oilers dropped another disappointing game against the Anaheim Ducks last night, and multiple Oilers called out goaltending at their major problem.
Last week, Coach Knoblauch called his team a fragile group, nearing the dreaded hockey insult of soft. Today Knoblauch called them fragile again, but it could have a different meaning.
Oilers Coach and Players identify goaltending as major problem after loss to Anaheim Ducks
When speaking about his team's start, Coach Knoblauch said the Oilers were flying until they gave up the first goal against, and then they completely collapsed.
We got caught, goal against, and after that we're a fragile team. When things aren't going well, we lose our game. Still thought our start was exactly how we needed to play, guys are ready - then a little adversity, and we're a shell of ourselves.
I would like a save or two, but I'd also like us to defend the dangerous areas of the ice better than we did.
- Coach Knoblauch
I would like a save or two, but I'd also like us to defend the dangerous areas of the ice better than we did.
- Coach Knoblauch
It's significant to hear Knoblauch call his team a fragile group right now. That term can refer to a poor mentality to adversity, but also that the team literally has a major position of weakness - their goaltending. It's exhausting for the players to have to come back from down in every game.
Oilers veteran Corey Perry also seemed to hint that goaltending is the major problem for the team right now. One mistake seems to cost the Oilers far too much, and it's wearing on the players.
The first 10 minutes we controlled the game, came out with a lot of energy. One mistake, it's in the back of our net & we can't seem to get over that. Then things unravelled.
The most direct call out of the goaltending was from the longest tenured Oiler, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. Even Nuge used the word deflating, which in context, looks to be the best description of the Oilers' reaction when they see 5 goals in their net every night. It's deflating.
We just started to sit back a little too much, we got deflated. Not the response that we needed after they got their second & third one.
- Ryan Nugent-Hopkins
- Ryan Nugent-Hopkins
Any way you slice the stats, the Oilers goaltending is their weakest position relative to their entire roster and compared to the NHL. Their goaltending results have cost them games at times, and at others is putting stress on the team.
When every single puck seems to be going into the back of their net, the Oilers are a fragile team. They have to play a perfect game with no chances against, or they'll lose.
The Oilers absolutely must trade for a goaltender at the trade deadline this season. If they don't, they will be ignoring the single position that could stop them from winning the Stanley Cup.
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