Mike Babcock opened his post-game presser with a football joke after Devon Levi and the Oilers held Seattle to one goal, and the room went silent.
"Didn't give up a touchdown," Babcock said, before anyone had even asked a question.
Nobody laughed. Not even a polite chuckle could be heard, just an awkward pause hanging over the room.
The joke made sense, though. The Oilers allowed six goals in the opener and seven in Vancouver, touchdown territory on any scoreboard.
Saturday was different. Levi made 19 saves on 20 shots in a 3-1 win over Seattle, two nights after the chaos in Vancouver.
In the clip, Babcock sits down, delivers the line before the first question, and the room answers with nothing but silence.
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Connor McDavid and the Oilers finally give Babcock a full defensive night
Connor McDavid scored shorthanded and added an assist. Leon Draisaitl had the game-winner, and Owen Michaels scored again.
That's the "whole 60" Babcock had been asking for. One goal against is a long way from 13 in two games.
He's not known for patience, but he is blunt. That makes his press conferences a lot more interesting than the usual coach-speak.
The joke landed flat, and it was still refreshing. The league needs more coaches willing to say something real, even if the room isn't ready to laugh.
It's like a dad joke at the dinner table. Nobody laughs, but everybody remembers it.
The Oilers sit at 2-0-1 heading to Anaheim on Wednesday. Levi has been in net for both wins, and the crease conversation just got a little quieter.
Babcock will keep cracking jokes either way. The real question is whether the Oilers give him more nights worth smiling about.
Is Mike Babcock's blunt humour good for the Oilers?
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