The Edmonton Oilers concluded their four-game homestand with a frustrating 5-2 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday night (March 21). The Pacific Division is a mess, as the Seattle Kraken, San Jose Sharks, Los Angeles Kings, and Vegas Golden Knights all lost in regulation. Therefore, the Oilers didn’t lose any ground in the standings, which is the only silver lining to be taken away from this game.
Nikita Kucherov (2), Anthony Cirelli (2), and Jake Guentzel scored for Tampa Bay, while Connor McDavid and Josh Samanski scored for Edmonton. The Lightning scored three unanswered goals in the second period, including one at even strength, one on the power play, and one shorthanded. Kucherov had a four-point night and has taken over the NHL’s scoring lead.
Related: Kris Knoblauch’s Demeanour Is a Problem for the Oilers
Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped 25 of 27 shots for a .926 save percentage (SV%) in the win, while Connor Ingram stopped 22 of 26 shots for an .846 SV% in the loss. This was a better effort, but the Oilers were still extremely poor defensively, and their attention to detail still lacks. Here are four takeaways from another frustrating loss.
Roby Järventie Made His Oilers Debut
Roby Järventie made his Oilers debut, playing on the fourth line alongside Max Jones and Adam Henrique, replacing the injured Trent Frederic. The 23-year-old had seven NHL games under his belt with the Ottawa Senators in 2023-24, recording one assist. The Oilers acquired him in July 2024.
He has had a solid season with the Bakersfield Condors of the American Hockey League (AHL), registering 17 goals and 36 points in 52 games, after missing most of the previous season due to injury. This was a well-deserved call-up.
In typical head coach Kris Knoblauch fashion, Järventie wasn’t utilized that much. He had a team-low 8:30 of ice time and registered one shot, one hit, and two blocked shots. This was a solid showing, and he made some good plays. He created a great chance in the second but didn’t score. He didn’t look out of place, and he fit in nicely on the fourth line. Unfortunately, with all the penalties, his line wasn’t able to get into a rhythm and sustain any momentum.
Oilers Showed Emotion
This game had everything, and it started with a missed boarding call on Evan Bouchard. That resulted in a fight between Connor Murphy and Pontus Holmberg. Then, Darnell Nurse hit Brandon Hagel up high with the help of Vasily Podkolzin on the double team. Cirelli responded and dropped the gloves with Podkolzin. Podkolzin landed a few good shots, which took Cirelli out of the game for a bit before he returned in the third period.
Edmonton Oilers defenseman Connor Murphy and Tampa Bay Lightning forward Pontus Holmberg fight (Perry Nelson-Imagn Images)
The Oilers didn’t like that original hit on Bouchard, and since there was no penalty, they took matters into their own hands. They stuck up for their teammate, and that should be appreciated. Despite allowing three goals in the second period, the Oilers finally showed some emotion. Unfortunately, that emotion didn’t translate to a win.
Josh Samanski Scored His First NHL Goal
Samanski bizarrely scored his first NHL goal. Oliver Bjorkstrand flipped the puck toward his net, and it took an awkward bounce past Vasilevskiy. This was an unfortunate way to get your first goal. He was the last Oiler to touch the puck, and he didn’t realize he scored.
This was supposed to be a special moment, but the youngster couldn’t fully appreciate it or celebrate. At the end of the day, they don’t ask how; they ask how many. Despite how he scored, this will still be a memorable moment for him, and it’s deserved. He has played well, so it’s good to see him rewarded, even though the goal was fluky. He finished the game with one goal and one blocked shot with a plus-1 rating in 10:05 of ice time.
Tristan Jarry Should Get More Starts
This was Ingram’s fifth straight start, and he has been mediocre for the last two. The Oilers aren’t losing because of him, but he certainly isn’t helping them win. If he’s Edmonton’s starter, they are going to need him for the playoffs if they make it. He hasn’t been great, so maybe it’s time to give him a break.
The Oilers play the Utah Mammoth next, followed by two huge divisional games against the Vegas Golden Knights and the Anaheim Ducks. You’ll want Ingram for those divisional games, so Jarry should definitely start against Utah on Tuesday. It’s important to get Jarry into more games down the stretch to keep both goalies fresh and hopefully give Jarry a chance to redeem himself after an abysmal two months. The Oilers need both goalies to be successful if they have any hope of making it far.
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