HC Kris Knoblauch makes feelings known about $42M Oilers D-man's defensive error leading to Tage Thompson goal

The Edmonton Oilers’ 4-3 overtime loss to the Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday night drew attention to a miscue by Evan Bouchard that directly fed Tage Thompson’s second-period goal. After the game, head coach Kris Knoblauch addressed the error and how he deals with mistakes from key players.

Midway through the second period, Bouchard attempted to skate the puck out of trouble under minimal pressure. Instead, his touch slipped onto Thompson’s stick and seconds later it was behind Stuart Skinner.

During the postgame interview, when Knoblauch was asked how he handles an error of that scale from a core player, the head coach kept his response procedural:

“Mostly a conversation the next day about what had happened on the play. To tear a strip off them in between periods or on the bench I don't think is productive.”

He stressed the defenseman’s strong self-awareness and that Bouchard was fully aware that he had made an error and understood why the play was incorrect.

“He knows he made a mistake. He knows that that's not the right play. And it'd be different if Evan didn't care, if Evan didn't feel that he believed that he didn't make a mistake, but he has pretty good self-awareness that he understands what happened on the play.”

Evan Bouchard is currently in the first season of his four-year $42-million contract with the Oilers, carrying a $10.5-million average annual value.

---

Knoblauch claims Oilers have ‘nothing to panic about’

Edmonton scored three goals in the third period on the night after producing none in the first forty minutes. Knoblauch explained that the change came from the team playing with greater urgency and pace.

He mentioned that in the second period extended shifts disrupted line changes and slowed the flow of the game. However, he also pointed out that the Oilers repeatedly passed up shooting opportunities.

“We had the puck in the slot around 10 times and didn’t take a shot. Anytime you get into that area you should be shooting,” the head coach said.

Looking at the bigger picture, Knoblauch said the team’s first 40 minutes did not meet the standard but claimed that the loss was not a sign of a broader problem.

“I thought we did a pretty good job. I don't like the fact that we took six penalties and that took away a lot of our game. But when this team wants to turn it on and play well, most times they can play amongst the best.”

“But to be one of the best, you got to be able to consistently do that. So I think it's one game over the last few weeks, but I think we're nothing to panic about right now,” he added.

Regarding Buffalo’s overtime winner, he mentioned it came from a defensive miscommunication with multiple players around the puck failing to cover the attacker effectively.