The Edmonton Oilers lost to the Colorado Avalanche at Rogers Place on Monday (April 13). The score was tied 1-1 at the end of overtime, before Colorado outscored the host Oilers 3-2 in the shootout.
Both goals in regulation came during the second period, when Edmonton captain Connor McDavid and Avalanche defenceman Sam Malinski tallied for their respective squads.
The teams each fired 31 shots on goal during regulation and overtime, with Oilers netminder Connor Ingram and Colorado goalie Scott Wedgewood making 30 saves apiece.
With one point from a shootout loss, Edmonton (40-30-11) moves ahead of the Anaheim Ducks (42-32-6) for second place in the Pacific Division standings. The Oilers have just one game remaining on their 2025-26 schedule, while Anaheim plays twice more before the regular season concludes Thursday (April 16).
Oilers’ Shootout Struggles Continue
Monday marked the fourth time this season that the Oilers have gone to a shootout, and they’ve come up short in all of them.
In fact, Edmonton hasn’t been victorious in a shootout since Dec. 30, 2023, which is more than two and a half seasons ago. Since then, the Oilers have lost six consecutive times in the penalty shot contest.
The Oilers actually had a great chance to win Monday’s shootout, but couldn’t get a stop from Ingram. It was only the third time in Oilers history that an opponent had gone three-for-three in the shootout.
McDavid and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins each scored on Edmonton’s first two attempts. However, Valeri Nichushkin and Martin Necas responded with scores on the first two attempts for Colorado. Then, after Oilers forward Jack Roslovic fired the puck into Wedgewood’s pads on the Oilers’ third try, Avalanche captain Nathan MacKinnon blasted a shot through Ingram to lift Colorado to victory.
Ingram broke his stick over the crossbar in frustration following MacKinnon’s goal. Yes, the Oilers netminder could have been better in the shootout, but Edmonton probably doesn’t even make it to overtime without Ingram’s tremendous play during regulation.
Oilers Are Missing Draisaitl and Hyman
This was the third time in the last five games that Edmonton has scored one or fewer goals. The Oilers have been held to just two goals over their last 126 minutes of hockey at Rogers Place.
Not coincidentally, these offensive struggles coincide with the absence of two of Edmonton’s top three goal-scorers, centre Leon Draisaitl and winger Zach Hyman. Draisaitl has been out of action since suffering a lower-body injury on March 15, while Hyman has now missed six games with an undisclosed injury.
While the Oilers continued to score at their usual rate over the first couple weeks without Draisaitl, the loss of Hyman has really set Edmonton back. That was never more apparent than on Monday, when the Oilers had 84 seconds of a 5-on-3 power play midway through the third period and couldn’t capitalize on a golden opportunity to score the potential game-winning goal.
Draisaitl and Hyman were both on the ice for the Oilers morning skate on Monday. Hyman could return for Edmonton’s final regular season game, while Draisaitl won’t be back until the playoffs.
Oilers Have Improved Defensively
On the positive side, the Oilers have been playing much better defensively lately, looking more structurally sound than at any previous time this season. That’s likely also not coincidental, given the Oilers need to limit the goals against if they’re going to succeed without Draisaitl and Hyman.
Excluding the shootout, Edmonton has allowed just four goals in its last three games overall and given up one or fewer goals in three of its last four games at home.
The Oilers’ defensive commitment was evident in the 26 shots they blocked on Monday. That’s tied for Edmonton’s third-most blocks in a regular season game since 2019.
Costly Loss for Oilers‘ First Place Hopes
Edmonton’s shootout loss, coupled with a 6-2 victory for the Vegas Golden Knights over the Winnipeg Jets at T-Mobile Arena on Monday, leaves the Oilers with slim hopes of finishing atop the Pacific Division standings.
Related: Breaking Down the Oilers’ Chances of Finishing First in the Pacific Division
In order for that to happen, Vegas needs to lose at home in regulation to the Seattle Kraken on Wednesday (April 15), Anaheim needs to lose at least one of its two remaining contests (both on the road, at the Minnesota Wild and Nashville Predators), and the Oilers must beat the Vancouver Canucks at Rogers Place on Thursday.
What’s more, the Oilers no longer control their own destiny for finishing top two in the Pacific Division and securing home ice advantage for Round 1 of the playoffs. Even with a season-ending victory over the Canucks, the Oilers will finish third in the Pacific Division unless Anaheim loses at least one of its last two games.
Meanwhile, if Edmonton stumbles against Vancouver and the Los Angeles Kings get points in their last two games (both on the road, at the Canucks and Calgary Flames), there is a possibility that the Oilers drop all the way to the Western Conference’s second wild card spot, which would mean a first-round match-up with Colorado.
Suffice to say, the Oilers and Edmonton fans will be watching the scoreboard very carefully the next couple nights.
