Connor Ingram started his third game for the Edmonton Oilers Saturday night.The overall result wasn’t what the team was hoping for, losing 3-2 to the Calgary Flames on a night where the Turkey Legs slowed the Oilers, but one promising result was Ingram’s play.

He turned aside 29 of 32 shots for a .906 save percentage, and earned his third quality start on the season. On the season? A .915 save percentage and a 2.35 goals against average.

It’s a small sample size, of course, but Ingram has proved he’s worthy of, at the very least, some extended runway as the Oilers starting goaltender with Tristan Jarry working his way back from injury. While there was a big, flashy save from Ingram in the third period of Saturday’s game, robbing Adam Klapka on the goal line, it was the rest of his play between the pipes that impressed.

He was calm, cool, and collected, and he was the reason the game was as close as it was.

“We weren’t as sharp as we were before the break, and Connor Ingram had a good game, he made some saves, and we gave up a lot of odd-man rushes,” said Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch.

Even on the goals he did give up, there wasn’t much he could’ve done. Yegor Sharangovich was able to walk into an uncontested spot in the slot, quickly firing a wrist shot over Ingram’s shoulder for Calgary’s first goal. The second, scored by grinder Ryan Lomberg, saw him intercept a brutal Alec Regula pass in, once again, the slot, and there wasn’t much Ingram could do. Even the third, which saw Blake Coleman cash in a tic-tac-toe goal, saw the Flames pass around Evan Bouchard and Mattias Ekholm.

The Oilers’ goaltending has been well written about over the past few years, but it’s a story without a conclusion. Jarry was acquired to be the guy to replace Stuart Skinner, but Ingram was picked up before the season started as some insurance in the crease. He’s certainly showing he can provide that, and not only has he opened the door to more starts, he’s also opened the door to potentially being the Oilers backup goaltender the rest of the season.

And while a three-game sample size is tiny — and one that will grow with Jarry expected to miss weeks — his play has already been well ahead of Calvin Pickard’s. Pickard’s posted a 3-5-2 record, a .861 save percentage, a .393 goals against average and has notched just quality starts in two of 10 games. It’s the second-worst save percentage in the league, and the third-worst goals against average rate and quality start percentage rate in the league.

Zach Laing is Oilersnation’s managing editor, senior columnist, and The Nation Network’s news director. He also makes up one-half of the Daily Faceoff DFS Hockey Report. He can be followed on X at @zjlaing, or reached by email at zach.laing@bettercollective.com.PRESENTED BY SOUTHVIEW ACURA

At Southview Acura, luxury isn’t just what you drive, it’s how you’re treated. Family owned and operated, we’re proud to offer an exceptional selection of new and certified pre-owned Acuras, backed by a service experience built on trust and precision. Whether it’s your first visit or your next, our team is committed to excellence every step of the way. Visit Southview Acura today, where luxury meets reality.