Oilers’ Loss to Wild Wasn’t on Pickard — But Bigger Trade Questions Linger

The Edmonton Oilers battled hard against a good team on Saturday afternoon, but fell short to the Minnesota Wild. 3-2 on the road trip, Connor McDavid extended his point streak to nine games (11-12-23), but the Wild took advantage of their opportunities, out-battling Edmonton and goaltender Calvin Pickard. It was a frustrating loss — one that felt more like death by small mistakes. “I liked the guys’ effort,” said head coach Kris Knoblauch after the game.

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The compete level was there. Edmonton pushed, worked, and clearly wanted the game. But against a structured Wild team, sloppiness and momentary breakdowns proved costly.

Leon Draisaitl’s four-minute penalty put the Oilers behind early. While the initial call felt soft, his reaction put the Oilers shorthanded for too long against a good team already holding a lead. Draisaitl posted two assists in the game, but looked frustrated the rest of the night.

Andrew Mangiapane finally broke through with his first goal in 22 games, a great tip off an Evan Bouchard pass. Connor McDavid continued his strong offensive play, tying the game at 2–2 on the power play and dragging the Oilers back into it.

But Minnesota delivered the decisive blows late.

A critical defensive breakdown saw two young Oilers converge on the wrong player, opening up the middle for a dangerous scoring chance that turned the tide. It was a clear “understand the moment” situation. Some will argue that Edmonton’s third pairing of Riley Stillman and Ty Emberson shouldn’t have been on the ice in those dying seconds. It’s fair to debate.

Pickard Not the Problem, But Can the Oilers Ride This Jarry Situation Out

In the end, the road trip was still solid. Eight points would have been incredible, but the Oilers remain well within the playoff conversation, particularly given the way their season started and after two tough stretches away from home.

Despite the loss, Calvin Pickard did his job for the Oilers. He made several big saves and gave the Oilers a chance. The goals he allowed weren’t the result of soft play — they came off breakdowns and high-quality chances. Still, the question remains, what happens if Jarry’s situation is long-term?

Connor Ingram will get the nod Sunday against the Vegas Golden Knights. His numbers in the AHL haven’t been great. Can the combination of Ingram and Pickard keep the Oilers above water? The game against Minnesota proved that the Oilers’ attention to detail might not be good enough. Edmonton gave Minnesota multiple dangerous looks, including a breakaway, and that may be too much for two netminders whose numbers are troubling to handle.

The real turning point came on the 4–2 goal, and the issue wasn’t goaltending — it was coverage. The Oilers lost structure in their own zone, allowing Vladimir Tarasenko to drift into a dangerous area. Two defenders were late to react, and the backcheck lacked urgency. It was another self-inflicted dagger. If the Oilers do this repeatedly with Pickard or Ingram in goal, that’s a problem.

The Oilers can expect Pickard to fight. Ingram is a total unknown. If Jarry is out for a lengthy period of time, the Oilers will have to consider making a move.

Next: The Reason the Sabres Walked Away From an Lyon-to-Oilers Trade