After an intermediate period of joy and some vague taste of success against the Florida Panthers, the Edmonton Oilers have been handed another ugly defeat by the high-ranked Dallas Stars at Rogers Place on Tuesday.

The 8-3 defeat laid bare several pressing issues that have been hollowing out the team from within. As the Oilers skated around their home ice, they seemed to lack the motivation and drive that translated into the damning outcome at the end of the match. Moreover, the team’s abysmal goaltending spoke for itself, prompting Captain Connor McDavid to speak up.

Connor McDavid Addresses the Edmonton Oilers’ Goaltending Woes

The Oilers have now lost four of their past five games. So far this season, the team has also achieved a staggeringly low number of regulation wins. Something seems off about the Oilers’ performance as the team moves from one game to another, showing no signs of life whatsoever.

Then there was Skinner, the 27-year-old goalie, who allowed four goals on eight shots, registering a save percentage of .500 before being pulled to be replaced by Calvin Pickard, who started the second period and made 18 saves.

The goaltending situation needs to be salvaged with utmost urgency, for the Oilers have reached a historical low. According to Sportsnet Stats, the team’s .860 save percentage is the worst it has been since its NHL debut in 1979-80.

Oilers .860 team save percentage is their lowest through 25 games since their inaugural NHL season in 1979-80

— Sportsnet Stats (@SNstats) November 26, 2025

In the post-game media availability, a dejected and beaten-down McDavid got honest about his team’s goaltending situation. According to the standout center, the problem extends far beyond Skinner and Pickard. When goaltending fails, it sends out a bigger message that casts a shadow of doubt over the entire team’s performance.

“I really feel like goaltending is a team thing. I don’t care who it is: When the team in front of them isn’t playing up to their standards, tough for a goalie to look good. I felt bad for both of them tonight,” McDavid shared after the game. Clearly, the defense corps and the rest of the team in general aren’t doing as much as they should.

Will the Oilers get better? What could it take for Edmonton to start playing at the elite level that guarantees a playoff appearance? McDavid stated that, considering their current form, the blue and orange squad has a lot of work to do before they can reach the zenith. “Between us playing our best and where we are right now, its obviously pretty far,” McDavid admitted bluntly.

Despite McDavid absolving the team’s goaltending from absolute responsibility, it remains one of the biggest criticisms the team faces. There is a chance that the Oilers will finally heed the fans’ persistent appeals to prioritize the goalie situation.