Oilers at Kings, G60 2025-26

That was one ugly hockey game. Tristan Jarry was horrawful, Darnell Nurse was bafflingly poor, and the Edmonton Oilers kicked themselves in the nuts with a steel-toed boot repeatedly in Anaheim last night.

The club also played Connor McDavid 22 minutes and Leon Draisaitl 20, so the tanks won’t be full tonight against the Los Angeles Kings. The Oilers need these points, and this is the kind of execution they can muster? I don’t know if this team, if this coaching staff, if this defense, is going to make it to the finish line. What an unholy mess.

WHAT TO EXPECT IN FEBRUARY

• At home to: TOR (Expected 1-0-0) 0-1-0
• On the road to: CGY (Expected 1-0-0) 0-1-0
• On the road to: ANA, LAK, SJS (Expected 2-1-0) 0-1-0
• Expected Record: 3-2-0, six points in five games
• Actual Record: 0-3-0
• Season Record: 28-23-8, 64 points in 59 games

The Oilers sit in third place in the Pacific Division now, the Anaheim Ducks have passed them despite having two games in hand on Edmonton. The LA Kings also have two games in hand, and trail the Oilers by four points. Tonight’s game is a big one. By the way, the Seattle Kraken are one point behind Edmonton with a game in hand.

• Nuge-McDavid-Hyman 12:07, 6-6 shots, 1-1 goals, 63X, 7-3 HDSC
• Roslovic-Draisaitl-Savoie 9:07, 9-5 shots, 1-2 goals, 60X, 1-2 HDSC
• Podkolzin-Henrique-Frederic 6:31, 2-3 shots, 45X, 1-1 HDSC
• Mangiapane-Lazar-Frederic 2:16, 0-1 shots, 0-1 goals, 72X, 1-0 HDSC

The best news on the night was Matt Savoie’s 1-2-3, and he moved his five-on-five points-60 up to 1.14 for the year. He is 2.08 points-60 since January 1. Music! His passing ability is exceptional, I thought he played a whale of a game last night. The top line was flying all night, the trio collected two goals and three assists with high-end skill. The Draisaitl line did good things despite the 1-2 GF-GA line, I’d like to see them again. It’s difficult to rip the forwards on any level this morning. I liked the lines and the performance.

• Nurse-Walman 15:10, 8-9 shots, 1-4 goals, 69X, 5-2 HDSC
• Ekholm-Bouchard 13:18, 5-5 shots, 2-1 goals, 57X, 4-3 HDSC
• Stastney-Emberson 13:12, 6-3 shots, 74X, 3-1 HDSC

All three pairings had the puck going in a good direction and the expected goals were solid to excellent. Tristan Jarry stopped 20 of 25 shots (.800SP) and Connor Ingram got to three of four (.750). My main culprit on the night was Jarry, who I do like as a goalie but believe may be losing the starting job in real time.

My culprits were Jarry on the first goal (Ian Moore), collective brain freeze on the second GA (Bouchard late to slot coverage), too juicy on the rebound by Jarry on the third GA, a terrible effort by Jarry on the Zellweger goal, Nurse passive coverage and weak five-hole by Jarry on the tying goal and lots of watching, Nurse chasing on the GWG. Lots of poor play, and Nurse had a poor game, but Jarry sunk the battleship sure as hell. I think Connor Ingram is the starter, folks. I’m going to casually place this here, deep in the bowels of the post. I think Kris Knoblauch may be in trouble as Oilers coach. He faded the GM’s signings in summer, he was stubborn on those blasted stretch passes and gapping, and now his team puts out that effort in an important game. Maybe it’s from the break, but rust never sleeps and this Oilers team naps at intervals.

CONDORS

On The Lowdown today, we will have Bagged Milk and your comments on the Oilers efforts. noon to 2pm Sports 1440 and You Tube.