The Edmonton Oilers face a crucial decision as they prepare for Game 4 of their Stanley Cup playoff series against the Anaheim Ducks on Sunday night. With their team trailing 2-1 in the best-of-seven matchup, head coach Kris Knoblauch remains undecided about which goaltender will take the ice.
Connor Ingram has been between the pipes for all three games so far, but his playoff performance has raised questions. During Saturday’s practice, backup netminder Tristan Jarry took position in the crease typically reserved for the upcoming game’s starter, though Knoblauch downplayed any significance to the move.
“We haven’t decided,” Knoblauch explained. “I think going in (to this series), we were pretty sure (about our No. 1). And it was the same thing last year, and maybe the year before. Today in the NHL, very rarely do you have one goalie play all the games in the playoffs.”
The coach elaborated on the modern approach to playoff goaltending: “Twenty years ago and before that, it was unheard-of to be swapping goalies. But we’ve got two good goalies. We feel confident they can both play. And going into the playoffs, we felt there was going to be a time where we’re going to have to make a switch at some time. Whether that’s for Game 4 or Game 5 or whatever it is, we have confidence in both of them.”
Ingram’s struggles have become apparent during the postseason. The 29-year-old goalie, who compiled a 16-10-3 record during the regular season with a 2.60 goals-against average and .899 save percentage across 32 games, has allowed the most goals in the playoffs. Following Friday’s 7-4 defeat to Anaheim, Ingram has given up 14 goals and carries a concerning 4.70 GAA and .849 save percentage into the next contest.
Meanwhile, Jarry brings a different set of credentials to the table. The goaltender, who celebrates his 31st birthday this week, joined Edmonton from the Pittsburgh Penguins in a December 12 trade. During his time with the Oilers, he recorded a 9-6-2 mark with a 3.86 GAA and .858 save percentage over 19 appearances. His last start came on April 7 in a 6-5 overtime defeat against Utah, and he hasn’t seen game action since relieving for the final 20 minutes of a 5-2 victory over San Jose on April 8.
Should Jarry receive the starting assignment for Game 4, it would mark his return to Stanley Cup playoff action for the first time since May 15, 2022, when Pittsburgh fell 4-3 in overtime to the New York Rangers.
Throughout his playoff experience with the Penguins from 2020-22, Jarry appeared in eight postseason contests, compiling a 2-6 record alongside a 3.00 GAA and .891 save percentage.
