Foegele’s called-back goal cements the Oilers’ lack of luck and adds to their struggles

The Edmonton Oilers were facing a two-goal deficit heading into the third period against the Vancouver Canucks and looked to catch a break with a first-minute goal from Warren Foegele. With 19 minutes to score a game-tying goal, the flow of the game would have been significantly different with Edmonton being a team capable of applying that game-changing pressure.

However, the goal was reviewed…

the oilers appear to score off a scramble in front, but it’s called back for a kick.

goal + overhead and net cam angles included in clip. pic.twitter.com/VvZnUDmPHM

— zach (@zjlaing) November 7, 2023

Unlucky outcome for an untimely no-goal

The puck looked like it crossed the goal line after making contact with Warren Foegele’s skate, and as it goes, a review was needed.

From some angles, it looks like Foegele’s skate was pushed; from other angles, it looked like a distinct kicking motion. From the only angle that matters—the NHL control room’s—it was the latter.

The play was a complete pile-up in front of the net, with umpteen players in the crease and the rest of them surrounding it. Many sticks and skates were involved in the net-front battle, and when those goals work, the post-game interviews would have every player immediately calling out that type of goal as one of those grinded-out goals, the ones earned in the rough spots, that can change the momentum of a game.

The goal was ultimately called back and Edmonton continued the third period with a two-goal deficit.

A lack of luck or a lacklustre lull?

The Oilers have not had luck on their side. Shooting percentages are low across the board, high-danger chances are being saved regardless of the goalie they face, and the team is facing a vicious negative feedback loop that they’ll need to break out of.

And that loop is as bad as it’s ever been. Head Coach Jay Woodcroft was ejected from the game with under seven minutes to go. Details about the incident will emerge soon enough, but that’s just one more pitstop on the Oilers’ rapid journey to rock bottom.

In this game, they had a prime opportunity to mount a comeback. Unfortunately, the Canucks scored again to make it 5–2. Just how different might things have gone if it was a 4–3 game instead?

Having the goal called back from the NHL is not the end of the world for a single game, but it’s just one more thing that could have gone wrong for the Oilers that absolutely did go wrong.