The Edmonton Oilers welcomed goaltender Tristan Jarry back to the crease on Tuesday night, but his teammates provided anything but a smooth return. In a mistake-riddled affair, the Oilers fell 4-3 in overtime to the Nashville Predators in Nashville, squandering a chance to secure two points against a team they have historically dominated.
A Costly Welcome Back for Jarry
Making his first start since December 18 after missing 11 games, Tristan Jarry was immediately under pressure. The Oilers' defensive structure was porous, leading to a barrage of early chances for the Predators. Jarry conceded three goals on the first 14 shots he faced, though he also got a lucky break when the game's very first shot hit the post.
Despite the shaky team start, Jarry found his rhythm as the game progressed. His performance ultimately earned the Oilers a crucial point by forcing overtime, a fact not lost on his teammates. "I thought Jarry was great, earning us that extra point," said forward Zach Hyman in a post-game assessment that placed blame squarely on the skaters in front of the net.
Turnovers and Forced Plays Define the Night
The Oilers' game plan seemed to unravel from the opening puck drop. Instead of simple, effective hockey, the team opted for risky, complicated plays that repeatedly backfired. Coach Kris Knoblauch pointed to a lack of urgency and poor decision-making. "We looked like we were a step behind," Knoblauch stated. "We just wanted it to be easy... by trying to force plays and turning over pucks."
The list of errors was long. Andrew Mangiapane's turnover led directly to an odd-man rush and Nashville's first goal. Defenceman Evan Bouchard coughed up the puck for a Predators breakaway later in the first period. These were not isolated incidents but a pattern that persisted throughout the night, forcing Jarry and the Oilers into constant scramble mode.
Overtime Winner a Fitting Conclusion
The game-winning goal in overtime served as a perfect summary of the Oilers' evening. Another offensive zone turnover led to a long lob pass and a potential breakaway for Nashville's Roman Josi. Jarry aggressively charged out of his crease to challenge and disrupt the chance, making a heroic effort.
However, the play was not over. With Jarry stranded, Leon Draisaitl was slow on the backcheck and Evan Bouchard lost track of trailing forward Brady Skjei. Skjei collected the loose puck uncontested and fed it back to Josi, who buried the winner into a largely empty net. It was a defensive breakdown that epitomized the team's lack of focus and discipline for the full 60-plus minutes.
The loss is a frustrating stumble for the Oilers, especially against a Predators squad they had compiled a remarkable 15-1-2 record against since 2018. While the power play and penalty kill had moments of success, the team's five-on-five play, riddled with unforced errors and a desire for the "dipsy-doodle" over simple hockey, proved to be their undoing on this January night in Tennessee.
