The Edmonton Oilers are still searching for consistency all over again, and their latest defeat only intensified the spotlight on their goaltending. A 6-5 overtime loss to the Utah Mammoth on Tuesday quickly turned into a talking point, with much of the criticism directed at netminder Tristan Jarry.
Criticism Hits Tristan Jarry in Oilers Defeat
The game itself was a back-and-forth affair. J.J. Peterka opened the scoring. But Curtis Lazar tied it just 11 seconds later. Connor McDavid and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins then gave Edmonton a 3–1 lead.
In the second, Nick Schmaltz and Logan Cooley brought Utah back. But Vasily Podkolzin restored Edmonton’s advantage. Schmaltz struck again short-handed to even things at 4-4.
In the third period, Colton Dach, who returned from injury, put the Oilers up 5-4. Alexander Kerfoot then tied it late. Clayton Keller proceeded to score just 33 seconds into overtime on the power play to seal Utah’s win.
While the offense did its part, Jarry’s performance drew heavy scrutiny. He allowed six goals on 31 shots, continuing an uneven stretch despite entering the game with two recent wins. Through 18 appearances with Edmonton, he now holds an .856 save percentage and a 3.95 goals-against average, numbers well below expectations for a playoff-bound team.
The reaction from analysts and media members was swift. Broadcaster Jon Linder suggested Jarry could hurt Edmonton’s postseason hopes. “Tristan Jarry is going to be the end of the Oilers come playoff time. I’m reminded of Kyle Dubas’ brilliance in making that trade every single time I see Jarry in net for Edmonton. Wow. The NHL GM of the Year very likely lives in Pittsburgh,” Linder wrote.
Analyst Ian Cameron described it as, “One step forward two steps back night for Tristan Jarry too. He was not Grant Fuhr reincarnated tonight either.”
Perhaps the harshest criticism came from Penguins beat writer Josh Yohe, who called Jarry “an incredible train wreck” and questioned his long-term future. Meanwhile, TSN’s StatsCentre noted that Jarry’s .856 save percentage is tied for the lowest single-season mark (minimum 15 games) in Oilers franchise history. That list includes names like Ron Low, Gary Edwards, Eddie Mio, and even Hall of Famer Grant Fuhr.
Despite the loss, Edmonton picked up a point and is level atop the Pacific Division with the Vegas Golden Knights at 88 points. Still, the goaltending concerns are becoming harder to ignore as the playoffs approach.
The Oilers won’t have much time to regroup, with their next test coming against the surging San Jose Sharks on Wednesday.
