Game 9: Montreal Canadiens @ Edmonton Oilers
Start time: **9:00 PM EDT / 6:00 PM PDT**
In the Canadiens region: TSN2 (English), RDS (French)
In the Oilers region: Sportsnet West
Streaming: ESPN+, TSN+, RDS
It was far from pretty, but two points are two points.
For 20 minutes last night, the Montreal Canadiens looked like a five-win team while the Calgary Flames looked like a six-loss team. Then the Habs took their foot off the gas in the second period, which gave the Flames enough momentum to get themselves back into the game, and then some. Montreal could arguably count themselves fortunate to weather the Flames in the third. However, to their credit, they did manage to claw their way back into the game, winning it in overtime on a piece of sublime puck-handling and distribution skill by Ivan Demidov.
Now the Habs head up Alberta Highway 2 for a date with Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers.
Tale of the Tape
Canadiens
Statistics
Oilers
6-2-0
Record
3-3-1
47.0% (24th)
Expected-goal share
49.0% (19th)
3.38 (7th)
Goals per game
2.57 (T-26th)
2.63 (11th)
Goals against per game
2.71 (T-14th)
19.2% (19th)
PP%
25.0% (11th)
79.2% (16th)
PK%
80.0% (15th)
1-0-1
Head-to-Head Record (24-25)
1-1-0
Cole Caufield (5)
Most goals
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (4)
Nick Suzuki (10)
Most assists
Connor McDavid (7)
Nick Suzuki (11)
Most points
Connor McDavid (8)
Coming off of two consecutive defeats in the Stanley Cup Final, the Oilers came into the 2025-26 season hoping that the third time would be the charm. To that end, the management chose to run back the core for another year. The results have been predictable. The Oilers are 3-3-1, having snapped a three game losing streak by beating the Ottawa Senators in overtime on October 21. Amusingly enough, this record actually is an incremental improvement; Edmonton started the 2023-24 season 1-5-1 and the 2024-25 season 2-4-1. At this point, slow starts are simply fait accompli in the Oil Capital of Canada.
Anyone who has watched the Oilers over the past two years knows the team’s number-one issue, and the first seven games of 2025-26 indicate that nothing has changed. Last season, Edmonton ranked seventh-best in expected goals against, ninth-best in shots on goal against, but only 14th-best in goals allowed. In the playoffs, Stuart Skinner allowed 11 goals in two games before being lifted for Calvin Pickard, nearly torpedoing the Oilers’ run before it started. Pickard reeled off six straight wins before being sidelined due to injury, but the respite was enough for a rejuvenated Skinner to take Edmonton to the final — where the house of cards came crashing down and the Florida Panthers averaged 4.67 goals per game en route to Lord Stanley.
Edmonton’s goaltending remains the team’s biggest stumbling block. Skinner remains the starter, and owns a respectable .909 save percentage. However, that number drops to a much less impressive .879 once a shutout of the New York Rangers — a team that has thus far scored once on Madison Square Garden ice — is removed. It also needs to be said that the Oilers are doing yeoman’s work in front of their netminders. Skinner faced and stopped 30 shots against the Rangers. In his four other games, his highest workload is 24, despite two of those games going to overtime. Pickard’s save percentage is currently .865, having faced 15 and 22 shots in his two games thus far. The less said, the better.
Edmonton’s newfound commitment to team defence comes with a price. The Oilers currently average 49.9 shot attempts per 60 minutes at five-on-five, a far cry from the 62.8 they put up last season. They average 26.0 shots on goal under the same circumstances, roughly 17% less than last campaign’s 31.1. Seven games into the season, Connor McDavid has yet to score at five-on-five, and Leon Draisaitl has one goal in that situation. The team as a whole has only scored 18 times, including nine at five-on-five and five on the power play.
Chemistry could also play a role in this offensive drought. The team did see considerable turnover when it comes to depth. Looking at the lineup from game six of the Final, Evander Kane, Corey Perry, Jeff Skinner, John Klingberg, and Connor Brown all left the club. In their place, the Oilers acquired Andrew Mangiapane, signed Isaac Howard, David Tomasek, and Jack Roslovic, called up Noah Philp and Matthew Savoie, and promoted Ty Emberson.
The last time the Canadiens let their opponents off the mat, they responded with a much more comprehensive performance the next time they had an opportunity. They’ll need something similar tonight at Rogers Place. The Flames may not have had the talent and skill to capitalize on their chances, but the Oilers certainly do.
