Oilers coach can't hold back his true reaction when asked about goaltending
Photo credit: Edmonton Oilers Raw
The Edmonton Oilers lost in embarrassing fashion to the Colorado Avalanche by a score of 9-1, and Coach Knoblauch had a telling reaction to the goaltending.
The Oilers goalies were far from the only reason they lost last night's game. Every person in the organization right now is failing their roles, from the forwards, defence, coaching, and management - something Bob Stauffer called out furiously.
Oilers coach has extremely telling reaction when asked about goaltending
However, it wasn't all brutal last night. The Edmonton Oilers came out flying early, looking like they were ready to match the Avalanche.
Then, after 2 identical uncontested wrist shots from Cale Makar beat Stuart Skinner, the life was taken out of the team.
Finding themselves down a pair of goals again, the Oilers began to sink. Their effort level continued to deteriorate until the game was out of reach, and the Oilers gave up.
After the game, Knoblauch mentioned that the first goals against were deflating for the team. When asked further if the team still believes in their goalies, Knoblauch had to pause for almost 5 seconds to answer.
In that pause to find an answer, it's clear that the Oilers have lost their faith in the goalies.
KNOBLAUCH: After the first goal, there's a lot of deflation. Especially after the second one on the faceoff.
SPECTOR: Is this team losing some belief here when it comes to the goaltending?
KNOBLAUCH: Uh I don't believe so. I think there's been games out goaltending has been good. I see a lot of bigger issues than our goaltending.
SPECTOR: Is this team losing some belief here when it comes to the goaltending?
KNOBLAUCH: Uh I don't believe so. I think there's been games out goaltending has been good. I see a lot of bigger issues than our goaltending.
The coach is right to say that they have more problems than goaltending, but it still may be their biggest problem. Who knows if this game would've deteriorated if a goalie kept the game closer early on - and didn't deflate the group instead.
Now once again, both Oilers goaltenders are far below a .900 save percentage and league average goaltending. Calvin Pickard, though a great teammate, has a .836 save percentage. That's not even NHL level, let alone cup-calibre goaltending.
The Oilers are in dire straits to figure out how to turn their season around, and to do it quickly. Surely, part of the equation will be their goalies not being the worst on an NHL playoff team.
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