Lightning never strikes twice… or does it? That’s the question on every Edmonton Oilers fan’s mind after their season opener against the Calgary Flames on October 8, 2025. By the end of the second period, the Oilers were leading 3-0, and the home crowd was buzzing with anticipation of an easy win. Everything seemed to be going according to plan, passes were crisp, shots were on target, and the Flames looked frustrated. Then, in a blink, Stuart Skinner’s one mistake changed the game.

Just 40 seconds into the third period, a simple miscommunication between goalie Stuart Skinner and defenseman Evan Bouchard sent the puck bouncing loose in front of the net. The Oilers’ defensive structure collapsed for a brief moment- an opening Blake Coleman had been waiting for. Coleman reacted instantly. He pounced on the loose puck, sliding it past Skinner before the Oilers could recover. Suddenly, the Flames had tied the game 3-3. The momentum had shifted completely. Both teams battled fiercely in the final minutes, but neither could score, sending the game to a shootout. But what next?

In the decisive moment, Nazem Kadri scored for Calgary, completing the comeback and giving the Flames a 4-3 victory and denying Oilers star Leon Draisaitl his 400th NHL goal. For Oilers fans, the game was painful. This loss marked the Oilers’ third consecutive defeat in a season opener. But this ain’t the first time! The Edmonton Oilers have experienced a similar miscommunication between their goalie and defenseman in a season opener before.

During the season opener on October 3, 2009, against the Calgary Flames, Nikolai Khabibulin made his Oilers debut but poorly handled a clearing pass in the last minute of the third period behind his net. The puck was redirected onto the stick of defenseman Jason Smith, and forward Flames player David Moss scored a game-winning goal, giving the Oilers a 4-3 loss.

And this time, like history repeats, the arena was on fire, and the fans of the Flames cried, the Oilers fans groaned, and social media exploded with clips of the dramatic turnaround.

Stuart Skinner under fire as fans vent frustration

Fans were quick to voice their frustration. One wrote, “Better sign another center 🙃.” Another fan added, “What the hell is he doing? That’s brutal. Push that thing to the side so Bouchard can play it, or cover it up.” Well, it seems 2025 was not good for Stuart Skinner and team. For instance, the 2025 Stanley Cup series didn’t start the way he or the Oilers would have hoped. In Game 1, Skinner allowed six goals on 30 shots, and Game 2 wasn’t much better, with five goals against on 28 shots. These struggles cost him his spot temporarily, as backup Calvin Pickard stepped in during the first round against the Kings and later against the Panthers. But Skinner didn’t give up.

Stuart Skinner returned to the crease, making saves. In Game 4, for example, a pair of early stops helped slow down the Panthers’ offensive surge and gave the Oilers a fighting chance. Game 6 was make-or-break. The Oilers were facing elimination, and the pressure on Skinner was immense. Unfortunately, defensive miscommunication allowed Sam Reinhart to score multiple goals, including two empty-netters, leaving Edmonton with a 5-1 defeat. Over the course of the playoffs, Skinner’s numbers told the story of a team under pressure: a 3.95 goals-against average and an .857 save percentage. Another fan added, “Coleman clutch again 😤🔥🏒.”

One more wrote, “Stuart Skinner is f—— hilarious. Just a complete bum and the Oilers are like ‘Yeah, that’s our guy to backstop McDavid’s prime.’ What a f—— waste.” History seems to be repeating itself. In 2024, the Oilers opened the season with a 6-0 loss to the Winnipeg Jets. This continued their trend of rough season starts.

Yet another chimed in, “Edmonton starts another year with this bum as their goalie.” Bad luck seems determined to stick around for the Oilers. Back-to-back Stanley Cup Final losses haven’t helped either. The Oilers reached the Finals in both 2024 and 2025 but were defeated by the Florida Panthers in six games each year. Injuries also played a role. Key players like Zach Hyman, Mattias Ekholm, and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins pushed through significant injuries. This hindered their performance and contributed to the team’s struggles.

Looking ahead, the Edmonton Oilers will face the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday, October 11, 2025, at Rogers Place in Edmonton.