Mike Babcock had a one-word answer Friday when asked who was responsible for all the goals the Edmonton Oilers have given up: "Coaching."
The Oilers have allowed 13 goals in two games, an average of 6.5 a night.
In the Sportsnet clip, Babcock stands in a blue Oilers cap in front of the team backdrop, with a cluster of TSN and Sportsnet microphones right under his chin.
Good answer. Taking it on yourself protects the room, though the goaltending hasn't exactly made his life easier.
It's the parent who takes the blame for the broken window so the kids don't get grounded.
Is it really all coaching? The Oilers also score in bunches, with 14 goals of their own through two games.
That's how you end up 1-0-1 with a plus-one goal differential and a coach fielding questions about defense.
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Devon Levi and Tristan Jarry haven't helped the cause either
Tristan Jarry got Babcock's opening-night nod and finished with a .739 save percentage in a 6-5 overtime loss to Vancouver.
Devon Levi got the win in the rematch, a 9-7 game in Vancouver, despite a .682 save percentage.
Jake Walman is a -3 through two games on a $7,000,000 cap hit, the kind of number that keeps a coach up at night. Mark Spector already called him out during the Vancouver game.
Evan Bouchard has eight points through two games from the blue line, which is $10,500,000 well spent so far.
Connor McDavid has seven, with six of them coming as assists, and Leon Draisaitl has four.
The Oilers are doing all of this without Zach Hyman, who is listed as out until at least October 17. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Jason Dickinson were also sidelined to start the season.
Seattle visits tonight, before a trip to Anaheim on Wednesday.
Babcock is two games into his first season since the Oilers hired him in June, so the honeymoon was always going to be short.
He owned it on Friday. If the goals keep piling up against Seattle, that answer is going to get a lot harder to keep repeating.
Is Mike Babcock right to take the blame for the Oilers' 13 goals against?
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