As the 2025-26 NHL regular season calendar comes to an end, all16 teams have now punched their ticket to the postseason ahead of the 2026 NHL Stanley Cup playoffs.
For fans of the Edmonton Oilers, the only thing left to sort out is who they will be facing in the opening round. The Western Conference and more specifically the Pacific Division is wide open according to the current NHL standings.
The Oilers could face any of; the Vegas Golden Knights, Anaheim Ducks, Los Angeles Kings, and Colorado Avalanche. It will be a battle right to the wire as the season wraps up later this week and the first sets of playoff games begin over the weekend.
Regardless of opponent, the Oilers seem to be ready, even more so after the most recent game against the Avalanche.
Connor Ingram is dialled in
The Oilers starting goalie, Connor Ingram has been on fire in his most recent games, a very positive trend as the club gears up for their seventh straight playoff berth, potentially starting without star Leon Draisaitl. Despite even this setback, the Oilers appear to be doing fine and that does not seem like it is expected to change.
Ingram has a 2-2-1 record in his last five with a shutout and a .914 save percentage over that span. He looks even better in his last two despite both being losses, he has ended both matches with a save percentage above .950.
It has been a rocky road in recent years for the 29 year old who spent part of last season in the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program, before being acquired from the Utah Mammoth during the preseason for future considerations.
He played the first part of this season with the Oilers American Hockey League affiliate, the Bakersfield Condors playing 11 games with a 4-5-2 record and a .856 save percentage. He was recalled by the Oilers after Tristan Jarry suffered an injury in December and he has been up with the big club ever since.
Despite the odds being stacked against him and the Oilers originally acquiring him solely as an insurance marker to bolster the organizational depth, he has been able to win the starter's job. In 29 games this year, he has a 15-10-3 record and a 2.65 goals against average and .899 save percentage along with two shutouts.
Looking at his advanced numbers on hockey-reference.com, Ingram has a .620 quality start percentage and a positive goals saved above average. This puts him as the top Oilers goalie all season, out of the four goaltenders that have suited up for the club.
It appears that Ingram has been steady overall all season but he is heating up right now, at just the right time to help the Oilers make another deep run at the Stanley Cup.
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