Goalies are a funny breed. Sometimes they come out of nowhere, and sometimes they vanish just as quickly. One minute, they’re lights out, the next, they aren’t. And every now and then, a goalie who’s been struggling suddenly finds their game and surprises everyone.
Sometimes, a story sneaks up on a team. It’s not the big offseason signing or a blockbuster trade. It centers around a player who barely even figured into the conversation, but who suddenly becomes impossible to ignore. Right now, with the Edmonton Oilers, the player making noise is Connor Ingram.
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Although Ingram got beaten 3-2 in the shootout last night against the St. Louis Blues on the road, he’s been the more solid of the Oilers goalies. Ingram started the second night of Edmonton’s back-to-back road games, after Tristan Jarry had struggled against the Dallas Stars the night before. At least the Oilers got a point in Ingram’s game.
Ingram Emerges as Edmonton’s Most Reliable Option
At the start of the season, Ingram wasn’t supposed to be a major part of the Oilers’ goaltending picture. If anything, he looked like organizational depth. Would he become another one of those goalies who might bounce between the American Hockey League and the NHL, depending on injuries or scheduling?
But hockey seasons have a funny way of rewriting expectations. Over the last few weeks, Ingram has started to push his way into the Oilers’ crease conversation. His recent games have been solid enough that some fans and analysts are beginning to wonder if he might actually be the team’s most reliable option at the moment. That’s not something many people predicted back in October.
Ingram’s Statistics Won’t Make Anyone in the Oilers’ Organization Giddy
Ingram’s numbers don’t jump off the page at first glance. Through his NHL games this season, he’s sitting at 9-6-2 with a goals-against average just under 2.80 and a save percentage hovering around .890. Those aren’t Vezina-level statistics, but they’re steady — and sometimes steady is exactly what a team needs.
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He’s also been picking up wins. Ingram recently stopped 24 of 26 shots in a 4–2 victory over the Vegas Golden Knights, helping Edmonton pull away late in the third period. It was the kind of calm, composed game that coaches tend to appreciate. Nothing flashy, just stops when the team needed them.
For a club that has been searching for stability in net, that kind of night matters. Of course, the job hasn’t been easy.
Ingram Had a Difficult Game Against the Avalanche
Ingram drew a particularly tough assignment earlier in the week against the Colorado Avalanche in Denver. Facing one of the league’s most explosive offences on the road is never ideal for a goalie trying to build momentum.
Things got even more dramatic when Avalanche star Nathan MacKinnon collided with Ingram in the crease. The hit knocked the Oilers’ goalie out of the game and resulted in a major penalty and a game misconduct for MacKinnon. For a moment, it looked like Edmonton’s goaltending situation might become even more complicated.
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Instead, Ingram bounced back quickly and played against the Blues last night. Although he was beaten with only nine seconds left in overtime, his health leaves Edmonton wondering what’s next for the crease.
Oilers Believed They Needed a Change in the Crease
Coming into the season, Edmonton believed it needed a shakeup in goal. Stuart Skinner was traded, Calvin Pickard was sent down to the AHL, and the depth chart looked like a revolving door. General manager Stan Bowman said it best: the Oilers “needed something different.” Different is exactly what they got — and then some.
The Oilers’ crease has been all over the place, with names like Jarry and Ingram both bouncing around, leaving fans wondering who would ultimately take charge. Through all the reshuffling, Ingram seems to have grabbed the crease from Jarry. That wasn’t supposed to be the answer. But game after game, Ingram has battled, made the saves that matter, and earned his team’s trust.
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While the Oilers’ crease is far from settled, he’s delivered more consistent performances than Jarry this season. If the team wants to make a real playoff push, one goalie has to emerge as the clear starter. Right now, it looks like Ingram is making his case. It’s too early to call him the long-term solution, but the guy who started the season third on the depth chart has put himself in the middle of the conversation.
