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Edmonton Oilers seem lost for answers on scoring issues after third straight loss

Preston Hodgkinson
Preston Hodgkinson
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Oct 19 2025, 10:24 pm
Edmonton Oilers seem lost for answers on scoring issues after third straight loss
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The Edmonton Oilers have once again gotten off to a rough start to the regular season.

It seems like a slow start is now tradition for this hockey club, having done the same in each of the last four seasons. The Oilers aren’t in terrible shape at 2-3-1 on the year, but they find themselves on an ugly three-game losing streak where they can’t seem to do anything right.

Despite boasting some of the best offensive players in the world, the Oilers can’t seem to score, the defence has been leaky, and the goaltending has been unspectacular. Even the effort of the team looks lacklustre as they’ve put in three straight uninspired performances.

Even their 2-0 victory over the New York Rangers to kick off this five-game road trip was sloppy and one that was mainly due to Stuart Skinner stealing the game in goal.

After another disappointing 4-2 loss to the Detroit Red Wings on Sunday afternoon, nobody seemed to have a solid answer to the struggles. Leon Draisaitl seemed a bit flummoxed after the loss when asked why the team hasn’t been able to score.

“I don’t know, certainly not for a lack of effort,” Draisaitl told reporters. “I think everyone is trying really hard, but it’s just tough going right now. It’s not easy when you’re not seeing it, and plays are closing down on you quick. Just gotta be better.

“It’s certainly frustrating… We’re just not scoring enough. You’re not going to win very many games when you score one or two goals.”

Draisaitl hasn’t had trouble scoring, notching a goal against the Red Wings to put him up to four in six games. His teammates, however, have been a different story. The Oilers are tied for dead-last in the NHL with just six goals at five-on-five.

Head coach Kris Knoblauch has been constantly shuffling the lines to find some offence, but so far has come up empty-handed. The combination of Draisaitl and Connor McDavid usually yields great results, but that hasn’t been the case thus far.

Knoblauch said the team just isn’t executing.

“I think a lot of it, we got away from our game, the execution of our puck play,” Knoblauch said. “Just finding a little more consistency, being able to play more together.”

The season is still in its infancy, and the Oilers are nowhere near being in an insurmountable hole. Edmonton has battled back from much worse starts, and they have the talent to do so again.

But they’d better find a way to curb this play before things start to spiral once again.

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