Ducks-Oilers Game 4 Morning Skate Report: Will Edmonton start its now-trademark late series push? Or will young Ducks continue to impose and handle the challenge? @SportingTrib | #FlyTogether
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Should the Oilers start Jarry over Ingram in Game 4 against Ducks?
Photo credit: Perry Nelson-Imagn Images
Apr 26, 2026, 18:00 EDTUpdated: Apr 26, 2026, 18:13 EDT
Something needs to change for the Edmonton Oilers.
The Oilers are down 2-1 in their series against the Anaheim Ducks. Aside from a dominant first period in Game 1, the Ducks have been the better team through the first nine periods. Their biggest area of concern has been health, as both Jason Dickinson and Adam Henrique have missed the last two games. Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl don’t look 100 per cent either, with the former appearing to roll his ankle in Game 2.
One of the easiest changes the Oilers can make is with their goaltending. Connor Ingram has started all three games for the Oilers, posting an .849 save percentage and 4.70 goals against average. That gives him a dismal -3.0 Goals Saved Above Expect (GSAx), which is actually better than Lukáš Dostál’s -3.2 GSAx.
Goaltending has been far from the Oilers’ biggest issues, but aside from a terrific period where Ingram faced 20 shots in Game 3, it hasn’t helped either. According to Ducks’ reporter Zach Cavanagh from Sporting Tribune, there is a hunch around the Oilers’ media that Tristan Jarry will make the start.
Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch spoke to media following Saturday’s practice, noting that he hasn’t decided on a goaltender yet, but either goalie could suffice as the starter.
“Today in the NHL, very rarely do you have one goalie play all the games in the playoffs,” said Knoblauch. “20 years ago and before that, it was unheard of to be swapping goalies, but we got two good goalies that we feel confident that they can both play. Going into the playoffs, we felt that there was going to be a time when we’re going to have to make a switch. So whether that’s for game four or game five, whatever it is, we have confidence in both.”
In December, the Oilers traded their starting netminder for parts of the last four seasons, Stuart Skinner, to the Pittsburgh Penguins for Tristan Jarry. The Oilers general manager has made quite a few good moves, but this isn’t one of them.
Following the trade, Jarry finished the 2025-26 season with an .858 save percentage and 3.86 goals against average. In his last 20 regular season games, Jarry had a -11.1 GSAx. Jarry’s past postseason performances haven’t been all that encouraging either, posting an .891 save percentage in the eight games he’s played. He eventually lost the starter job to Ingram.
It’s not unprecedented for a Stanley Cup hopeful to change starters in the first round. Toward the end of the 2022-23 season, the reigning Presidents’ Trophy-winning Florida Panthers were fighting for their playoff life. Sergei Bobrovsky lost the crease to Alex Lyon, who went 6-1-1 with a .943 save percentage in the Panthers’ final eight regular season games.
The Panthers earned the final wild card spot and took on the Presidents’ Trophy-winning Boston Bruins in the first round. Those were the same Bruins who set the current record for most points (135) in a season. Lyon didn’t play great in his first three games, posting a .902 save percentage before being pulled in a Game 3 loss. Bobrovsky stopped eight of nine shots in relief, then struggled in Game 4 as the Panthers dropped to 4-1.
After that, Bobrovsky stopped 44 of 47 shots in Game 5, a 4-3 overtime victory, 29 of 34 shots in Game 6, a 7-5 victory, and 33 of 36 shots in Game 7, a 4-3 overtime victory. From the relief appearance in Game 4 until the Panthers swept the Carolina Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference Finals, Bobrovsky posted a .935 save percentage, with the Panthers going 11-3-0.
Bobrovsky was the starter who lost the crease to the backup. That’s a similar case to Ingram earning the crease over Jarry. Bobrovsky got the net back and capitalized on it. Hopefully, if Jarry starts on Sunday evening, he can do the same as the Oilers attempt to claw back into this series.
Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for Oilersnation, FlamesNation, and Blue Jays Nation. Follow her on Twitter @Ryley__Delaney.
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