Oilers' Kris Knoblauch On Thin Ice Should Ducks Win Series

The Edmonton Oilers have some issues right now, and if they can't get by the Anaheim Ducks in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, expect head coach Kris Knoblauch to be fired.

Frank Seravalli: Re Kris Knoblauch/Oilers: If they lose in the first round or flame out early I think he absolutely is in the crosshairs - Big Show (4/17)

The Oilers went down 2-1 in the series on Friday night, after a 7-4 drumming by the Ducks. Conor Ingram let in six goals and there's no doubt Edmonton is having goaltending issues at the absolute worse time, which puts Knoblauch in an even tougher spot behind the bench.

If Ingram is pulled, it's Tristan Jarry's net, and considering how inconsistent he's been since joining the team in a trade from the Pittsburgh Penguins, it's a tough spot to be in for a head coach, who is essentially between a rock and a hard place, with his job on the line.

The Oilers have been banged up and it's showing, as they can't keep up with the younger, faster Ducks. Edmonton blew a 1-0 lead and a 3-2 lead on Friday, and Knoblauch knows they're going to need their best moving forward.

"You look at the goals against and just some stuff that shouldn't happen, especially this time of the year," Edmonton coach Kris Knoblauch said. "There's lost coverage in front of the net a couple times or a little careless with the puck, stuff like that."

"We’ve had success putting it behind them, getting it to the top, shooting it, getting it back," Oilers forward Zach Hyman said. "We have to play simple.”

“We have to get pucks deep and not be turning pucks over because they counter pretty well," Oilers forward Kasperi Kapanen said. "They have a lot of young talent and a lot of speed, we have to keep getting it deep and our forechecks can be a lot better. And defensively we have to be quicker, skate more and close our gaps more."

Oilers are behind the eight ball and look like the worse of the two teams so far in their first-round series. If things continue to go from bad to worse, don't expect to see Knoblauch stick behind the bench.

Having trouble falling asleep because you’re pissed off about the game?

Don’t worry Oilers fans. Forget white noise or sleep aids.

Luckily you can tune into the post game interviews and fall asleep instantly to Kris Knoblauch’s emotionless mumbling to softball media questions.
— Captain Jack 🏴‍☠️ (@OilersJack) April 25, 2026