Oilers Show Major Improvement Under Mike Babcock

The Edmonton Oilers have accomplished something in their first four games of the 2026-27 season that took them until late January to achieve last year: winning three consecutive games.

Following Wednesday’s 5-2 comeback victory over the Anaheim Ducks, Edmonton improved to 3-0-1 under new head coach Mike Babcock. The Oilers have now defeated the Vancouver Canucks, Seattle Kraken and Ducks in succession, establishing some early momentum after a frustratingly inconsistent 2025-26 campaign.

Last season, Edmonton needed 56 games to put together its first three-game winning streak, finally accomplishing the feat with a 4-3 overtime victory against the San Jose Sharks on January 29. This year, it took just four games. While the sample size remains small, the early results suggest Babcock’s message is beginning to resonate.

Oilers Are Beginning to Buy Into Babcock’s System

When Babcock replaced Kris Knoblauch in June, the expectation was that he would introduce greater defensive accountability and structure to a team that had become overly dependent on its offensive firepower. The transition hasn’t been seamless. Edmonton surrendered 13 goals across its opening two games against Vancouver, including seven in a 9-7 victory. Defensive-zone breakdowns, turnovers and missed assignments exposed some of the challenges associated with learning a new system.

Babcock acknowledged those issues following the victory, emphasizing the importance of consistently executing the team’s structure rather than simply demonstrating it in stretches. The response against Seattle was encouraging. Edmonton limited the Kraken to one goal in a 3-1 victory, demonstrating that it could win without relying on an offensive explosion.

Against Anaheim, the Oilers showed another important quality: resilience. After falling behind 2-0, Edmonton responded with five unanswered second-period goals. It’s still early, but the team’s ability to respond to adversity rather than allow mistakes to snowball is an encouraging indication that players are embracing Babcock’s expectations.

Devon Levi Providing Stability in Goal

Goaltending was another major concern entering the season, particularly after Tristan Jarry surrendered six goals in Edmonton’s opening loss. Devon Levi hasn’t been perfect, allowing seven goals against Vancouver in his first appearance. However, his performances have improved considerably.

Levi followed that difficult debut with a strong outing against Seattle before stopping 29 of 31 shots against Anaheim, earning his third consecutive victory. Against the Ducks, Levi was particularly important during the opening period, when Anaheim outshot Edmonton 16-6. His ability to prevent the deficit from growing gave the Oilers an opportunity to regroup.

Edmonton doesn’t necessarily need elite goaltending every night. It needs timely saves and consistency, something Levi is beginning to provide.

Defensive Improvements Remain a Work in Progress

The Oilers’ defensive improvements are encouraging, although declaring their problems solved would be premature. After allowing 13 goals in two games, Edmonton surrendered just three across its next two contests. Against Seattle, the Oilers limited their opponent to five high-danger scoring chances, compared with 12 against Vancouver in the previous game.

Babcock’s emphasis on aggressive pressure, defensive-zone positioning and limiting turnovers appears to be producing results in stretches. Evan Bouchard has also been exceptional offensively, recording 11 points through four games, including six goals. His ability to move the puck and generate offence from the blue line remains an important component of Edmonton’s success. The challenge now is maintaining defensive discipline without sacrificing the team’s offensive strengths.

Oilers Have Already Taken an Important Step Forward

Three consecutive victories won’t guarantee sustained success, especially with Edmonton still adjusting to Babcock’s system. However, considering the Oilers managed just two three-game winning streaks throughout the entire 2025-26 regular season, accomplishing one within four games represents meaningful progress.

The offence remains dangerous, Levi is gaining confidence, and the defensive structure is showing signs of improvement. If Edmonton can consistently combine those elements, this early winning streak could become the foundation for a much stronger season rather than another temporary surge.

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