The Oilers' Goaltending Looked Like a Problem. What Happened?

Remember when goaltending looked like one of the biggest question marks facing the Edmonton Oilers coming into this season? After what happened last year, it was hard to blame fans for worrying. Edmonton needed more consistency between the pipes, and plenty of questions remained about whether the position would help or hurt the team's chances.

Well, here's something we probably didn't have on our preseason bingo cards: goaltending is becoming part of why the Oilers are succeeding. Tristan Jarry deserves plenty of credit for that.

Related: Jarry’s Shutout Might Be the Best News the Oilers Have Had All Week

Tristan Jarry Is Giving the Oilers Something to Feel Good About.

Jarry was at it again Wednesday night, stopping 30 of 32 shots in Edmonton's 3-2 overtime win over the Philadelphia Flyers. That's not just a decent night's work. That's a goaltender giving his team a chance to win, especially when the other side throws 13 shots at him in the opening period alone.

Philadelphia eventually scored on a power-play goal and tied the game in the third period, but Jarry didn't fold. He kept making saves, gave the Oilers a chance to get to overtime, and let Evan Bouchard take care of the rest.

His numbers are starting to tell an interesting story, too. Jarry is now 5-1-3, with a 2.50 goals-against average and a .907 save percentage. Those aren't numbers to sneeze at, especially given the expectations and questions surrounding Edmonton's goaltending coming into the season.

Jarry Could Be the Difference Going Forward.

Of course, one good stretch doesn't mean the Oilers have solved every goaltending concern. They'll still need consistency, and Jarry will have to keep earning his opportunities. Devon Levi also comes into play when looking at how the workload gets divided.

But something has changed. Instead of wondering whether the goaltenders will cost Edmonton points, fans are beginning to see performances that help the team collect them. That's a pretty important difference.

The Oilers have enough offensive talent to make life difficult for just about anybody. What they need is a goaltender who can make the important saves when the game gets tight. Jarry is showing signs that he can be that guy. Funny how quickly a supposed weakness can become a strength. Edmonton fans probably won't complain if this particular surprise continues.

Related: Oilers Tristan Jarry May Be Finding His Footing at the Right Time