Imperial, Saskatchewan, some 679 kilometres away from Rogers Place, is a town northwest of Regina that fans may already know as the hometown of Knoblauch.

But now, with Connor Ingram up with the Oilers, the two most well-known natives of Imperial, almost 20 years apart in age, have joined forces.

How was the bar in Imperial on Sunday?

“It’s been a while since I was in that watering hole,” said Knoblauch post-game. “I believe it’s just called the Imperial Hotel. Hopefully they had the game on and they were cheering.”

It’s been trials and tribulations for Ingram, who’s battled his way back for a new opportunity with the Oilers organization, and is rebuilding his game. While his numbers in Bakersfield haven’t flown off the page, his performance on Sunday could give fans renewed confidence in the team’s goaltending.

By necessity, Ingram stepped up for 28 saves in his first start since Feb. 22 to earn the 4-3 win over the Vegas Golden Knights, with his family ties to Knoblauch six and a half hours away.

“[My dad] was a high school teacher,” Ingram told reporters afterwards.

That’s right – Ingram’s dad taught a young Kris Knoblauch.

“I knew the family very well,” Knoblauch said. “Connor was probably the only one I didn’t know just because he was the youngest of the family.

“His mom and dad worked for the school. Mr. Ingram was our seventh-grade homeroom teacher, was my football coach, track and field coach, volleyball coach, you name it.

“I know the family very well.”

Crowded crease

With the injury to Tristan Jarry keeping him sidelined for the next couple of weeks, Calvin Pickard and Ingram are the tandem through Christmas and New Years for an Oilers team learning how to endure this season.

Despite all their injuries and the adversity they’ve faced, the Oilers sit just two points back of the Anaheim Ducks for tops in the Pacific Division.

But at the end of the day, it’s a children’s game they get paid adult money to play – it’s not real life. Ingram has battled through the real-world struggles losing his mother, and has persevered to restore his dream of playing in the NHL.

“There’s been dark days…If you surround yourself in life with good people, when you need them, they’re going to be there,” said Ingram. “And I think when you go through struggles, you find out who the people that really are around, and those are the people you want to keep around.

“You want to play in the NHL. Like I said before, you don’t take any day for granted. Every day you’re here is a good day.”

“We knew he was a quality goaltender”

The Oilers appeared to be cruising ahead 4-0 in the second period in their sixth game in nine days. But then the Golden Knights started to claw back, forcing some big stops from Ingram, and some good defensive plays by Darnell Nurse and Spencer Stastney at the tail end to ensure the win.

Knoblauch admired his goaltender’s play at the end of the night.

“He hasn’t played an NHL game for almost a year,” said Knoblauch. “He started off in Bakersfield and maybe the stats aren’t ideal, but I think he was under a lot of difficult circumstances there.

“We knew that he was a quality goaltender.”

“His game is really calming. He’s square to the puck, minimal movement. Tonight, I thought he played really well.”

The Oilers face the Calgary Flames on Tuesday night before three days off from games, their longest break between contests since Nov. 25-29.

We’ll find out soon enough who gets the start for that game, but in the meantime, I’m sure Imperial’s finest got a good night’s sleep after a job well done.

“When we do a job like we did today, it makes my job easier. I thought it was a great effort from top to bottom.”

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