After beating the wheels off the L.A. Kings on Thursday night, the Edmonton Oilers wrapped up their California road trip with one last stop in San Jose to face the sliding Sharks. The Sharks came into the game on a healthy losing streak, and that meant an opportunity for the Oilers to keep building momentum by kicking another team when they’re down. The best teams do it, and the Oilers needed to find a way to do that too. Unfortunately, that’s not what happened. Instead, Edmonton was incredibly flat for big chunks of the game, made mistakes as if it were the point of the sport, and ultimately pissed away another two points in an incredibly frustrating fashion. Final Score: 5-4 Sharks.

I don’t care if you look at Saturday’s 5-4 loss and want to hang it on the goaltending, the defence, the special teams, or all of the above, but all of those problems point to the fact that the Oilers cannot stop the bleeding in their own zone. They cannot defend, and they do not get enough timely saves when they matter most. As much as I want to point fingers at individuals, the reality is that it’s hard to find anyone who is pulling their weight on the defensive side of the puck. I’m not talking about the offence, the Oilers seem to score goals just fine, but their inability to lock things down is jarring.

This team is supposed to be a Cup contender, but their defensive coverage looks like they’ve never played the game before. They look like they have no idea what’s going on. The Oilers play defence like they’re bailing water on a sinking ship, but instead of using buckets, there are one or two guys trying to make a difference with thimbles and sieves. It’s crazy. But as much as Edmonton’s inability to keeps puck out of the net is a problem, I don’t even know what the solution is. This is the group that’s supposed to carry us to the promised land, but after performances like we saw in Anaheim and in San Jose, I’m having a really hard time buying what the team is trying to sell. Put bluntly, they’ve been awful.

As much as I want to sit here and complain about another demoralizing loss and all of the reasons why the Oilers stink right now, I’m deciding to look on the positive side. I’m looking for silver linings. And with the mission for positivity in my mind, how could I not mention Trent Frederic scoring his first goal in 36 games? This guy has taken more heat around these parts than anyone since he signed that eight-year extension — rightfully so, I should add — so I was happy to see him get back on the board. Not that I’m putting sunshine stickers on his report card or anything, but I’ve thought Freddy has looked better over the last handful of games, and it was nice to see him get rewarded for the effort.

Again, I’m not trying to say that one goal will magically wipe out what has been a dreadful season for Frederic. But I am saying that maybe this goal can be the little spark of confidence he needs to finish off strong. I mean, we all saw Frederic put the puck into the net twice, almost as if he didn’t believe it went in the first time, and I wonder if maybe that relief can be helpful down the stretch. I hope it can. Otherwise, if we don’t try to find some positives in what has been a rough situation, these next 7.5 years are going to be miserable, and I really hope that won’t be the case. Like I said, one goal isn’t going to save No. 10’s season by any means, but maybe it can act as a little jolt of life that wakes him up down the stretch. How cool would that be?

On a more important note than the hockey game, I want to take a minute to say thank you to everyone who joined us at the Matrix Hotel on Saturday for the 4th annual Brunch for Ben. Every year, this event grows a little bit bigger, and seeing that room packed with Oilers fans who showed up to support the Ben Stelter Foundation was incredibly special. Whether you were entering raffles, figuring out an angle on any of the amazing prizes we gave away, lining up for the mini golf game, or simply hanging out to watch the game with us, your energy and generosity made the afternoon an incredible success. It was the biggest Brunch for Ben we’ve had yet, and that doesn’t happen without this community showing up the way it always does.

Brunch for Ben has become one of my favourite days on the Oilersnation calendar because it’s a reminder that some things matter more than sports. Yes, we love the Oilers. Yes, it’s fun to get together for a game, but this even means more than that. Coming together to raise money and awareness for the Ben Stelter Foundation and to keep the Stelters’ mission alive is what it’s all about, and my heart is full when I think about the community’s response. I’m very grateful to everyone who spent their Saturday with us, supported the cause, and helped turn an afternoon hockey game into something that genuinely makes a difference. Thank you for backing us, for backing the Ben Stelter Foundation, and thank you for continuing to prove how strong this community really is. From all of us here at the Nation, thank you. I already can’t wait to start planning next year’s event.

The 2026 Trade Deadline Special is going LIVE March 6th. Join the Daily Faceoff crew on Friday, March 6th from 9 AM-1:30 PM MT for wall-to-wall coverage of every single move as it happens. Get instant reaction, expert analysis, and exclusive insights from special guests throughout the day. Tune in LIVE on the Daily Faceoff YouTube channel and don’t miss a second of deadline day chaos.