Mike Babcock makes blunt admission after Maple Leafs crush Oilers 7-2
Photo credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Mike Babcock took the blame after the Oilers fell 7-2 to Jim Hiller's Maple Leafs, saying Toronto outworked his group in Edmonton on Saturday night.
Mike Babcock didn't hide from it.
After the Edmonton Oilers got run out of Rogers Place by the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday night, the head coach pointed the finger at himself.
Toronto won 7-2 and snapped Edmonton's three-game winning streak, dropping the Oilers to 8-2-1.
Babcock admitted Toronto beat his team in nearly every way that matters, from pace to compete level.
Then he turned to the other bench.
Jim Hiller spent years as an assistant under Babcock in Detroit and Toronto, and Babcock credited him for squeezing more effort out of the Leafs than he got from the Oilers, calling that his own responsibility.
“They were more competitive than us, they were quicker than us, they were better…Jim Hiller had his group playing harder than I had my group, so that's on me.”
- Mike Babcock
- Mike Babcock
Toronto's depth made the difference
Leon Draisaitl scored twice and Connor McDavid added two assists, but the Leafs got goals from six different players.
William Nylander hit 300 career goals with his second of the night.
Anthony Stolarz stopped 30 shots for Toronto, and Tristan Jarry made 25 saves for Edmonton.
Babcock was asked about the bottom six, which has been a sore spot lately.
He wouldn't single those forwards out.
He said the whole group fell short, and noted the schedule has gotten tougher while Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Zach Hyman work their way back into the lineup.
What's next for Edmonton
The Oilers have leaned hard on McDavid and Draisaitl during a strong start to the 2026-27 season, and this game showed what can happen when the supporting cast can't keep up.
The pressure now shifts to the depth forwards to answer.
Two stars can only carry a team so far in this league.
Edmonton gets a quick chance to bounce back when it hosts the Detroit Red Wings on Monday.
Oilers fans will be watching closely to see whether Babcock's blunt postgame message leads to a better effort from the whole roster.
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