Something needs to change as the Edmonton Oilers drop another blowout game in game three on the road to the Anaheim Ducks, 7-4. After this game the Oilers are now down in the series 2-1, trailing for the first time.
This loss follows the game two loss at home that saw the Ducks beat the Oilers 6-4. Now after only one game on the road, the Oilers will enter Sunday night's game in Anaheim down, putting them in a bad spot with their backs against the wall.
There are many reasons for the Oilers falling behind in this series from the coaching staff to the goalies, nobody is immune from criticism.
Who is to blame for the Oilers falling behind?
The most obvious answer and one who has taken plenty of criticism for his play is Oilers captain Connor McDavid. Despite scoring a goal and an assist in game three, McDavid has been a non-factor for much of this series, clearly being shutdown by the defensively deficient Ducks.
He was held completely pointless after the first two games and although he broke this skid, he had no shots on goal or scoring chances in the first period of this game, something that cannot happen for a player of McDavid's calibre.
Connor McDavid had 0% CF and 0% xGF in the first period, per @NatStatTrick
— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) April 25, 2026
A lot of McDavid's failure to produce so far has to fall at the feet of head coach Kris Knoblauch who is in charge of the deployment of the Oilers team. McDavid has been clearly shutdown over and over again and has been unable to properly manage his star player and allow him the freedom to do what he does best, score a ton of points.
It is not only them but there is clearly an inability to suppress chances as the Oilers have given up over four expected goals in two of the three games in this series. Much of this has been given to the Ducks top line of Gauthier-Carlsson-Terry, which the Oilers have been unable to defend properly with them decimating them repeatedly.
Of course, it cannot be undersold that goaltender Connor Ingram has not been up to par. Ingram has had a negative goals saved above expected in the last two games, exiting both games at -2.00 or worse. Simply put, it is yet another instance of the Oilers having the worse goalie in the series as he matches up against Lukas Dostal.
It cannot all be pinned on the goalie however, the Oilers need to play a tighter defensive game and need to be able to generate more offence, especially from their captain. The Oilers are clearly feeling the loss of Jason Dickinson who is currently sidelined with an injury after game one.
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