In the quiet of the Edmonton Oilers dressing room following a decisive 5-0 victory over the St. Louis Blues on Sunday, January 18, 2026, goaltender Connor Ingram waited patiently. While stars like Zach Hyman and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins addressed the media, the night's shutout hero sat at his stall, a picture of calm amidst the post-game buzz.
A Goalie Seizing His Opportunity
The spotlight, however reluctant he may be to seek it, is firmly on Ingram. Since his emergency recall from the AHL's Bakersfield Condors on December 18—triggered by starter Tristan Jarry's lower-body injury in Boston—the netminder has been a revelation. In nine starts, he has compiled an impressive .917 save percentage and a 2.22 goals-against average, providing stability between the pipes.
"Nobody is as chill as Ingram," the article noted, a demeanor that has served him well. His call-up was so sudden he arrived with barely a change of clothes, but his performance has made a lasting impression. "To be a part of this for however it will be, is something I’ll remember for a long time," Ingram reflected.
Comparing his current situation to his tenure with the Arizona Coyotes before their move to Utah, Ingram highlighted a key difference: "This team is built a lot different than that one was. We had some wild years in Arizona before we kind of figured it out. I’m just trying to keep it going here as long as I can."
Navigating a Three-Goalie System and Cap Constraints
The Oilers' success with Ingram has created a unique roster dynamic. The team is currently carrying three goaltenders: Jarry, Ingram, and Calvin Pickard. A key deadline passed before Saturday's game in Vancouver; had Ingram been sent down then, he would not have required waivers. Now, he does, but his play has effectively made that a moot point.
The club is utilizing its available salary cap space to maintain the trio, leaving Ingram in a temporary living situation. "That’s up to them (an apartment, a house rental). If it’s not broke, don’t fix it," he said pragmatically, while his wife remains in California.
Kapanen Injury Compounds Forward Shortage
While goaltending has been a strength, the forward group faces a new challenge. Winger Kasperi Kapanen left Sunday's game on his fifth shift after apparently catching a rut in the ice. The team has listed him as day-to-day with a leg issue.
This injury, coupled with Leon Draisaitl's absence as he tends to a family matter in Germany, leaves Edmonton with only 11 healthy forwards. With minimal cap space—just $270,833—the Oilers cannot recall a forward from Bakersfield unless they alter their goalie configuration or place Kapanen on long-term injury reserve, which his current status does not warrant.
As a result, head coach Kris Knoblauch is likely to deploy an 11-forward, 7-defenseman lineup against the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday, with blueliner Alec Regula drawing back into the lineup. The team has seven more games on its current homestand to manage this roster crunch.
The Oilers' season continues to evolve, with an unexpected hero in net and the constant test of managing health and salary cap logistics in the relentless NHL schedule.
