Ah, the Edmonton Oilers and goaltending. The two go together like peanut butter and jelly. One of the biggest talking points, as it’s been with seemingly every Oilers season this century, is the quality of the goaltending Edmonton will get this season. The talent on the roster is undeniable, with Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, Evan Bouchard, and others.
However as we all know, goaltending is the one true difference maker in the NHL. A mediocre team can punch above their weight if they get a save, and a great team can be sunk if their netminders aren’t up to task. Considering the current Oilers goalie situation is still up for grabs, let’s see how it’s been throughout the first week of the 2026–27 NHL season.
Only one game under Jarry’s. Belt
It’s only been one game for Tristan Jarry, but Oilers fans everywhere saw the same old song and dance from #35 in the season opener against Vancouver. Six goals allowed on 23 shots, good for a nightmarish .739 SV%. In fact, Jarry allowed three consecutive goals to start the third period, none of which stemmed from chances that seemed particularly threatening. Jarry did rebound to make a couple stops as the Oilers stormed back to tie the game 5–5 after trailing 5–2, but then allowed the OT winner to Paul Cotter to end the game.
Like I said, it’s only been one game, but if this is the continued standard of play Edmonton is going to get from Jarry, he won’t be long for the NHL. In fact, here’s a not so fun fact. Jarry has started 18 games as a member of the Oilers. He has allowed four or more goals in 10 of his last 12 starts.
Originally brought in to be the steadier upgrade over Stuart Skinner, Jarry has faltered more than Skinner ever did, and might be playing his way right out of the league at this rate. It’s only one game so far, so I’m willing to give Jarry some grace, but you’d imagine the leash has to be short.
Levi is just warming up
The newest Oilers goaltending bet, Devon Levi was acquired from Buffalo on July 1 (along with a seventh rounder) for a 2028 third-round pick. Levi’s pedigree as a goaltending prospect was otherwordly in junior. At the 2021 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, Levi won a silver medal for Canada, and set the all-time tournament record for save percentage with a .964% and a .075GAA in seven games played.
Once he made his NHL debut however, the results were decidedly less great. Levi struggled through parts of the 2023–24 season, playing behind a bad Sabres team that didn’t do him any favours. He spent the last two seasons as one of the best goalies in the AHL, and at just 24 years old, he has time to show that high-end talent yet.
So far as an Oiler, it’s been a bit uneven. Levi’s two starts have been complete polar opposites of one another. Levi’s first game as a member of the Copper and Blue was a wild one. He allowed seven goals on 22 shots in a 9–7 Edmonton win where the Oilers held leads of 5–0 and 8–2 at separate points. His .682SV% was even worse than Jarry’s which was cause for some major concern. However, it was Levi’s first NHL action in almost two years, and for a goalie with only 38 career starts, that’s a long wait.
Levi’s second start as an Oiler was much more promising. A 3–1 win on Saturday against Seattle, as well as his first start on home ice. Levi looked much more composed stopping 19 of 20 shots. This included a wonderful cross-crease pad stop on Jordan Eberle to keep the game tied at 1–1 in the third period. Levi also kept Edmonton in it during the second period during some spirited Kraken offensive pushes. A .950SV% is a great way to bounce back from one below .700, and he earned First Star of the Game honours for his efforts.
Again, it’s hard to read much into just two starts, but the Seattle game specifically showed some of why Edmonton targeted someone like Levi. His athletic ability is very impressive in the crease, and although not every game is going to be a 9–7 barnburner, he collected himself enough to hang on and get two wins for the Oilers.
Is it too early to tell?
Clearly it’s much too early to make any definitive statements on either goalie. However, there are some real early concerns about a lack of improvement in Jarry’s game, and reasons to be optimistic about Levi’s continued playing time.
As the Oilers begin a three-game West Coast road trip, both goalies will again get a shot. Oilers Coach Mike Babcock announced that Levi will start Wednesday against Anaheim, while Jarry will tend the crease Saturday in San Jose. For Oilers fans’ sakes, let’s hope both goalies put up good performances.
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