Ugly Stats Create An Opportunity in Goal for the Oilers After Setback

The Edmonton Oilers have recalled goaltender Connor Ingram, a move driven more by necessity than comfort as the team navigates a setback they hoped wouldn’t be an early concern. With Tristan Jarry sidelined after getting injured while moving across the crease in Boston on Thursday, Edmonton suddenly needed a goaltender. With few options and a roster freeze in effect, Ingram was the call.

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Jarry has returned to Edmonton for further evaluation and has been placed on injured reserve. In the meantime, the Oilers are staring down a troubling reality: their current goaltending numbers are brutal. Ingram carries an .856 save percentage this season, while Calvin Pickard sits at .858 — the worst marks among qualified goalies in the AHL and NHL, respectively.

Still, Oilers management insists there’s a reason these numbers are what they are, and this recall isn’t purely about the data. AHL general manager Keith Gretzky emphasized, “Ingram’s worked hard to get his game in order, mentally he’s ready. …He’s got a lot more experience in the NHL than (Bakersfield’s other goalie Matt) Tomkins.”

That experience matters. Ingram, 28, has appeared in 102 NHL games compared to Tomkins’ six. During the 2023-24 season, Ingram played 50 games for Arizona and recorded six shutouts, proving he can shoulder a heavy workload when settled.

The question is, can he get settled, and how quickly? Much of that will depend on the defense played in front of him. Gretzky noted that Bakersfield is young, offensively minded, and not exactly built to protect its goaltenders. The Oilers can and should play solid with Ingram in goal. They don’t always do so, but they can when they choose to focus on a solid defensive effort. Now, more than ever, the rest of the roster needs to come together and make life easier on Ingram.

The Oilers need to shut it down before asking Ingram to handle a flood of Grade-A chances against. And, when the time comes, Ingram needs to make the saves he’s expected to make. If both can do their job, the Oilers should be alright, and those goalie numbers should improve.

If they can do that, Ingram has the chance to play well and surprise people. “Stats aren’t everything,” Gretzky said. “There’s been no issues with him at all. This is an opportunity for Connor Ingram.”

For Ingram, the call-up is less about perfection and more about being available when the moment arrives. Life rarely waits for ideal timing — and right now, the Oilers need a goalie.

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