Goalie Tristan Jarry (35) of the Edmonton Oilers made a glove save on Cody Glass (12) of the New Jersey Devils at Rogers Place on Tuesday, January 20, 2026.
The Edmonton Oilers left opportunities on the ice in a narrow 2-1 loss to the New Jersey Devils.
A slow start, defensive lapses, and a late wall set by Jake Allen defined the night.
Despite improved pressure late, the Edmonton Oilers could not find an equalizer.
A cautious and quiet opening period
The opening twenty minutes offered little rhythm from either side.
Both teams combined for just eight shots.
The Edmonton Oilers struggled to generate speed through the neutral zone.
New Jersey focused on structure and puck control.
Tristan Jarry kept Edmonton steady with timely saves.
The score remained locked after one uneventful frame.
Defensive slips tilt the second period
The game opened up in the middle period.
The Devils pushed the pace and outshot the Edmonton Oilers 11-5.
Edmonton’s defensive coverage broke down at key moments.
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins vacated the slot on the opening goal.
New Jersey quickly capitalized on the space.
Matt Savoie responded with a crucial deflection goal.
Jake Walman’s point shot changed direction perfectly.
The equalizer briefly lifted Edmonton’s bench.
However, a costly line change swung momentum again.
Darnell Nurse stepped off at the wrong moment.
The Devils scored what became the game-winner.
The Edmonton Oilers entered the break trailing 2-1.
Power play fails to deliver
Special teams offered no relief for the Edmonton Oilers.
The power play went scoreless on two chances.
Puck movement lacked urgency and precision.
One turnover nearly resulted in a shorthanded goal.
Jarry erased that mistake with a sharp glove save.
Missed execution continued to haunt Edmonton’s top unit.
Jarry gives Edmonton a fighting chance
Tristan Jarry delivered a composed performance in goal.
The night marked his 300th NHL start.
He made several high-quality stops early.
A glove robbery on Cody Glass stood out.
Jarry tracked rebounds well and managed traffic calmly.
He finished with 15 saves on 17 shots.
His work kept the Edmonton Oilers within reach.
Late surge meets Jake Allen’s wall
The third period belonged to the Edmonton Oilers territorially.
They fired eleven straight shots at Jake Allen.
Connor McDavid drove play and led five-on-five possession.
Zach Hyman rang a shot off the crossbar.
Vasily Podkolzin broke free but failed to convert.
Allen stayed square and absorbed pressure confidently.
Each rebound was cleared with urgency.
The Devils survived wave after wave.
Individual efforts stand out
McDavid logged heavy minutes and four shots.
He absorbed contact and drew attention without reward.
Podkolzin earned respect for defending his captain.
His fight energized the crowd and the bench.
Jake Walman impressed from the blue line.
He generated chances and blocked shots.
Evan Bouchard played nearly twenty-seven minutes.
His puck movement created danger despite mistakes.
Missed details prove costly
Not every Edmonton Oiler delivered.
Nurse’s line change proved decisive.
Spencer Stastney struggled at even strength.
Mattias Janmark lacked his usual pace.
Small errors added up over sixty minutes.
Against tight defensive teams, margins disappear quickly.
Where the Edmonton Oilers stand now
The Edmonton Oilers fall to 25-18-8 on the season.
They sit two points behind Vegas in the Pacific Division.
Opportunities remain, but urgency is rising.
Edmonton must start sharper and finish cleaner.
The schedule offers little room for hesitation.
Pittsburgh awaits as the next challenge.
