Oilers Seek Redemption Against Devils After Loss to Islanders

NEWARK, NJ – The Edmonton Oilers are looking to bounce back this Saturday at 3:30 p.m. ET against the New Jersey Devils at Prudential Center. This match marks the first of back-to-back games for the Oilers, who are hoping to recover from a 4-2 defeat to the New York Islanders on Thursday.

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, who scored in the loss to the Islanders, expressed frustration about the team’s lack of discipline. “Just being too sloppy,” he said. “We need to keep it simpler, especially at the start of the game.” The Oilers aim to regroup as they enter the next leg of their five-game road trip.

The Oilers opened their road trip on a high note with a win against the New York Rangers, thanks to stellar goaltending from Stuart Skinner. Skinner recorded a shutout, but the team couldn’t carry that momentum against the Islanders, where errors led to a difficult game. Horvat’s hat-trick ultimately sealed Edmonton’s fate.

Head Coach Kris Knoblauch highlighted discipline issues, noting, “Taking three minors in the third period is not helping us. Our penalty kill can only do so much.” The Oilers hope to improve their performance in crucial moments, as they address their discipline moving forward.

On the bright side, the team is still getting solid performances from Skinner, whose Goals Saved Above Expected (GSAx) ranks him among the top netminders in the league. However, he remains winless against the Devils, with a career average of 4.08 GAA in previous matchups.

Saturday’s opponent, the New Jersey Devils, has had a strong start to their season with a recent win. The Devils are looking to capitalize on any opportunities provided to them by the Oilers’ defense.

Meanwhile, Connor McDavid, the Oilers’ star center, is still seeking his first goal of the season. Despite his zero-goal tally, he leads his team with five assists so far. McDavid will look to change that statistic against a Devils team bolstered by impressive performances from Timo Meier and Jesper Bratt.

As the puck drops this afternoon, all eyes will be on both McDavid and the Oilers as they aim for redemption and to keep the Devils from extending their winning streak.