Oilers give up 13 goals in first two games as Babcock blames coaching
Edmonton split its opening two games against Vancouver, outscoring the Canucks but surrendering 13 goals in the process. Coach Mike Babcock says the defensive breakdowns fall on his staff, not the players.
The Connor McDavid-led Edmonton Oilers scored 14 goals through their first two games of the 2026-27 season, taking three of four possible points from the Vancouver Canucks, but also allowed 13 goals against. New head coach Mike Babcock, who stressed defensive play throughout training camp, took responsibility for the issue after Friday's practice, saying "I think it's coaching" when asked about the team's defensive struggles.
Defenceman Jake Walman was benched at one point during Thursday's 9-7 win in Vancouver and finished the game minus-3, while newcomer Shakir Mukhamadullin was minus-6 through the two games. Goaltenders Tristan Jarry and Devon Levi each gave up several goals on relatively low shot totals, but Walman and teammates declined to place blame on the goaltending, calling the defensive lapses a team-wide problem that included multiple breakaways and odd-man rushes.
Walman said the Oilers lost focus after building an 8-2 lead partway through Thursday's game, allowing the Canucks back into contention before holding on for the win. Babcock said the coaching staff would keep working on the defensive issues in practice ahead of Saturday's game against the Seattle Kraken, with particular attention on Walman and Mukhamadullin on the blue line, but said he was not yet worried given how early it is in the season.
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