The Edmonton Oilers' recent run of stellar goaltending came to an abrupt halt on New Year's Eve, December 31, 2025. In a decisive 6-2 loss to the visiting Boston Bruins at Rogers Place, newcomer netminder Connor Ingram endured a difficult night between the pipes.
Swayman Stands Tall as Oilers' Attack Stymied
While Ingram struggled, the story at the opposite end of the ice was one of remarkable resilience. Boston's Jeremy Swayman delivered a masterclass in goaltending, single-handedly thwarting the Oilers' prolific offense. Swayman was particularly spectacular on breakaways, stopping Edmonton skaters on five separate occasions. The Oilers generated a significant advantage in high-danger chances, outshooting the Bruins 26 to 10 in Grade-A opportunities and 13 to 4 in the most critical 5-alarm shots. Yet, Swayman's heroics rendered that advantage meaningless on the scoreboard.
Player Grades: McDavid Dominant But Unlucky
The Oilers' captain, Connor McDavid, was once again a force of nature, even if the scoresheet didn't fully reflect his impact. He earned a grade of 9 for a performance that was marvellous at everything but finishing and puck luck.
McDavid was credited with a staggering 19 major contributions to Grade-A shots and fired eight of those high-danger chances himself. He was instrumental on the power play and set up Zach Hyman's second-period goal that made it 2-1 with a dazzling display of skill. However, he was also among the culprits on a defensive breakdown for Boston's 2-0 goal and was on the ice for the late 6-2 garbage-time marker against. His final Grade A shots plus-minus was +11/-1 at even strength and +8/-0 on special teams.
Ingram's Tough Debut and Defensive Lapses
For the Oilers, the goaltending that had carried them for weeks was absent. Connor Ingram was found at fault on four of the six goals against. This performance stood in stark contrast to the brilliance of Swayman, creating a decisive goaltending mismatch that the Oilers' potent attack could not overcome.
The loss serves as a stark reminder of the importance of consistency in net, even for a team with Edmonton's offensive firepower. While they dominated the chance count, they were ultimately "goalied" by an opponent whose keeper rose to the occasion while their own had an off night. The Oilers will look to rebound and rediscover their winning formula as they move forward in the season.
