The Edmonton Oilers suffered a 9-1 defeat to the Colorado Avalanche on Saturday, exacerbating their season struggles. Veteran forward Ryan Nugent-Hopkins will miss at least a week due to an undisclosed injury, as confirmed by head coach Kris Knoblauch. The team looks to rebound against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Monday night.
The Edmonton Oilers' challenging season took another hit with a humiliating 9-1 home loss to the Colorado Avalanche on Saturday. Starter Stuart Skinner was pulled after allowing four goals on 13 shots, while backup Calvin Pickard conceded five goals on 21 shots. Pundits, including Sportsnet's Mark Spector, criticized the performance, suggesting the Oilers have quit on Skinner as their unchallenged starter and calling for general manager Stan Bowman to pursue a goaltending upgrade. TSN's Cameron Gaunce echoed the sentiment, highlighting Skinner's inconsistent play.
Compounding the issue, forward Ryan Nugent-Hopkins is sidelined for at least a week with an undisclosed injury. Knoblauch confirmed the news on Monday, noting Nugent-Hopkins was initially held out of Sunday's practice for maintenance but the problem proved more serious. Through 16 games, Nugent-Hopkins has tallied 16 points, including five goals and 11 assists, making him one of Edmonton's steadiest contributors.
To adjust, Mattias Janmark will make his season debut, with Curtis Lazar replacing David Tomasek in the lineup. Skinner is set to start in goal against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Monday. Zach Hyman is expected to return this week, while Kasperi Kapanen remains out until around December 1. Despite defensive lapses exposed in the Avalanche game, the Oilers stuck with their goaltending tandem of Skinner and Pickard after offseason considerations, having acquired Connor Ingram from the Utah Mammoth last month, though he is currently with their AHL affiliate in Bakersfield.