Ask Dubey: How did the Oilers get to Darcy Kuemper?

Maybe in Game 6, a bit of doubt crept in. Suddenly, one or two pucks sneak through early. It’s 2-2, then quickly 3-2 Oilers. That makes it tough mentally. You feel like you’ve already given your absolute best, and yet you’re behind again.

Gradually, more shots started finding their way past him. Not necessarily bad goals, but pucks that hadn’t gone in before were suddenly going in. Eventually, Edmonton scored six and won the series.

Bottom line: Darcy Kuemper was incredible. He was the only reason overtime didn’t end quickly, the only reason Game 5 stayed close, and the only reason Oilers fans had anything to worry about. Great effort from Kuemper. Even better effort from Edmonton.

Question: As a former goalie yourself, and based on how you were coached, what kind of scenarios should fans be more forgiving about when judging goalies?

I’ll admit, I’m a goalie, so I’m always going to side with my guys. I know that’s probably not the answer you’re after, but hear me out.

Hockey today is insanely fast and skilled. Players skate quicker, shoot harder, and make plays that seem impossible. When a puck goes straight in, everyone jumps on the goalie. But there’s usually way more to the story.

Think about Skinner in the first-round series. Early on, he faced chances where guys like Fiala or Kempe were flying across the ice, east-to-west, at full speed. These aren’t just good chances, they’re elite scoring opportunities from top shooters. Sure, from the couch it might look easy, but trust me, it’s not.

Here’s what happens when the team struggles defensively: As a goalie, you start losing trust in what’s happening in front of you. Instead of calmly reading the play, you start guessing. You think, “Is he passing? Shooting? Where do I need to go next?”

Instead of staying patient and square, you start cheating, anticipating plays. Your feet get restless. You drift backward into your crease. Suddenly, you’re off-balance, your feet aren’t set, and shots start slipping through that usually wouldn’t.

Now, I’m not saying goalies never make mistakes, of course we do. But before you blame the goalie, take a closer look at the replay. Watch for subtle things, like a quick screen, a slight deflection, or a stick interfering with the shot. Sometimes, if the shooter is partially hidden for even a split second, that’s all it takes. The puck is already flying before the goalie even sees it leave the stick.

Take Connor Hellebuyck’s second goal recently. Fans see it as a bad goal, but look again. The shooter comes down the wing full speed, and just as he’s releasing, the puck ramps off a stick. Suddenly, a predictable high-glove shot becomes a tricky blocker-side deflection. Those tiny details matter.

So yes, be mad at your goalie sometimes. It’s natural. But remember, these are elite athletes playing an incredibly difficult position. They’re working hard, fighting through screens, tracking pucks, and dealing with chaos on every shift.

Next time you watch, look closer. Notice the little things. It might just change your view of what a “bad goal” really is.

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