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Oilers coach Knoblauch deserves criticism for Edmonton's early playoff struggles

Colton Pankiw
Colton Pankiw
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Apr 24 2025, 5:00 pm
Oilers coach Knoblauch deserves criticism for Edmonton's early playoff struggles
Bob Frid/Imagn Images

By no means can the Edmonton Oilers be counted out, but they are facing an uphill battle in their first-round series versus the LA Kings.

The Oilers have gotten off to an ugly start versus the Kings, as they have been outscored 12-7 thus far and are now headed back to Edmonton trailing the best-of-seven series 2-0.

The Oilers have been outclassed in every category. They are getting hammered on special teams, are getting no saves, and in Game 2, struggled to find the back of the net. On top of all that, they are also being outcoached.

Fans in Edmonton were thrilled with head coach Kris Knoblauch a season ago, as the rookie NHL bench boss not only helped the Oilers turn things around after a rough stretch to the regular season, but also made several gutsy moves in the playoffs that paid off in spades.

Whether it was going from Stuart Skinner to Calvin Pickard versus the Vancouver Canucks, inserting Philip Broberg into the Western Conference Final, or finding magic in a third line consisting of Adam Henrique, Mattias Janmark, and Connor Brown, everything he touched turn to gold.

Unfortunately, things have been much different early into this year’s Stanley Cup Playoffs.

In Game 1, Knoblauch had no choice but to ride his big guns in Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl heavily. It paid off, as the duo combined for six points and were able to help the Oilers pull off a ridiculous comeback to tie things up at five apiece.

Where Knoblauch made a crucial mistake, however, was not trusting the rest of his team. With less than a minute remaining in the game, he chose to ice a tired Draisaitl rather than preserve his energy for overtime, and the exhausted 29-year-old was unable to get back to cover Phillip Danault on the game winner.

That Game 1 loss saw Skinner allow six goals on just 30 shots. It marked the 13th time in his last 18 starts that he’s posted a SV% below .900, giving little, if any, faith that he could bounce back in Game 2.

Nonetheless, Knoblauch chose to go back with the 26-year-old, and it backfired, as he once again struggled to come up with the big stops his team needed, allowing five goals on 28 shots before being pulled in the third period.

Choosing to pull Skinner in favour of Pickard was a very questionable decision in its own right, as the game already appeared to be out of reach. It was a tough spot to put Pickard in, and the Kings got to him right away.

Game 2 saw Knoblauch go with a move many other Oilers coaches have tried over the years, as he loaded up his first line by placing McDavid and Draisaitl together. While the duo have terrific chemistry, it’s a move that has rarely worked out for the Oilers, as it limits offence throughout the rest of the lineup. That was the case last night, as they struggled to create chances against Darcy Kuemper and the Kings.

As the Oilers showcased in last year’s Stanley Cup Final versus the Florida Panthers, they can’t be counted out of any series. In order to get back into this one, however, their entire roster, along with their head coach, needs to be much better in Game 3 on Friday night.

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