HC Kris Knoblauch pinpoints crucial improvements that helped turn around Oilers' sloppy start

Edmonton Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch credits better special teams and goaltending for the team’s recent turnaround. He shared his thoughts ahead of the Oilers’ game against the Boston Bruins on Tuesday night.

"Well, I think a lot of it kind of a reason why we weren't winning games early in the season, special teams wasn't where it needed to be,” Knoblauch said. “Right now, our penalty kill has been doing really well, and so is our power play. Been scoring, moving up in the in the standings there."

Knoblauch also praised the team’s goaltending, saying it has been crucial in close games.

"How good our goaltending has been," Knoblauch added. "Both of them have been really solid, and nights where maybe we didn't deserve to win, they've been the difference, and they've been able to put us, push us over the top and get us the victory."

Kris Knoblauch’s Oilers, with a record of 24-12-3, are third in the Pacific Division. They have won three of their last five games. Meanwhile, the Bruins (20-17-5), third in the Atlantic Division, have lost four of their previous five games.

Edmonton’s offense is strong, averaging 3.28 goals per game. Leon Draisaitl leads the team with 59 points (29 goals, 30 assists) and Connor McDavid has 39 assists, ranking fourth in the league.

Boston’s offense has struggled, scoring 2.64 goals per game. David Pastrnak leads the Bruins with 42 points (17 goals, 25 assists).

Defensively, Kris Knoblauch’s Oilers allow 2.80 goals per game, slightly better than Boston’s 3.12. Edmonton’s Stuart Skinner has a 2.78 GAA and a .898 save percentage. Boston’s Jeremy Swayman has a 2.91 GAA and a .891 save percentage.

Coach Kris Knoblauch celebrated Oilers’s win result over performance

Leon Draisaitl, #29 of the Edmonton Oilers, registered a goal and an assist in the victory against Seattle Kraken. (Credits: Getty)

The Edmonton Oilers defeated the Seattle Kraken 4-2 on Saturday. Vasily Podkolzin scored early, converting a pass from Leon Draisaitl. Jeff Skinner made it 2-0 with a deke and shot over Philipp Grubauer. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins added a third goal with a one-timer from the slot.

"Tonight [our execution] was really good, especially in the first period where the pass completion was very high,” Kris Knoblauch said. “When that happens, you just have the puck, and you’re generating a lot, and ultimately, you don’t have to defend.”

Chandler Stephenson scored for Seattle on a 2-on-1, and Jaden Schwartz scored off a rebound. Leon Draisaitl sealed the win with an empty-net goal late in the third period.