The Edmonton Oilers have a goaltending problem that needs to be fixed pronto.
The Edmonton Oilers lost to the San Jose Sharks by a score of 3-2. The Oilers out shot the Sharks 41-18. The Sharks blocked 35 shots and won 57% of the faceoffs.
The goaltending situation with the Oilers is bleak right now. Stuart Skinner allowed three goals on 18 shots last night. On the season he has a 3.87 goals against average (GAA) with a .854 save percentage (SV%).
Stuart Skinner.Looking at NHL Edge tracking, Skinner is getting beat a lot on his blocker side. This is not typical for goalies, as most snipers in the league try to score on the glove side.
Jack Campbell's NHL results haven't been much better. Sporting a 4.50 GAA to go along with a .871 SV% for the 2023-24 season.
Comparing the two goalies, Skinner has the better high danger SV% with .709 to Campbell's atrocious .660 - the league average is .786. On the flip side Campbell has a better mid-range SV%- .944 to Skinner's .852. League average is .884 for mid-range.
If the Oilers were somehow able to limit their opponents to zero high danger chances every game, Campbell would be a Vezina Trophy candidate. For Campbell though, the issues run deeper.
He had his first start in the AHL last night and allowed four goals on 20 shots. including this incredibly weird (and soft) goal.
This is one of many goals that Campbell probably wants to have back. At this point in time the road back to the NHL is going to be long and arduous for the goaltender.
Poor goaltending is only one of the things that is ailing the Oilers. Something needs to give for the team to have a fighting chance at a playoff spot.
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