Connor McDavid throws Kris Knoblauch under the bus after tough loss.

Trouble between the Oilers top star and head coach?

Frustration may be setting in for the Edmonton Oilers after another tough loss against a playoff bound team in the form of the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Lightning made things look relatively easy, defeating the Oilers by a score of 5-2 off the back of another 4 point night for Lightning star forward Nikita Kucherov, and following the game signs of frustration may have been showing from the Oilers captain himself.

Asked about Kucherov’s big night, McDavid began by praising the Lightning but those comments would soon take on a different light.

“Playing on a great team, lot of great players over there, they have a great system, they’re perfectly coached, they all know what they are doing all over the ice, it’s impressive,” said McDavid. “They are a great team.”

McDavid was asked if he was frustrated by the pressure the Lightning brought forward against the Oilers during the game, and he once again used the opportunity to praise the Lightning and their coaching staff.

“Like I said they are extremely well coached, extremely well organized, they are very, very rehearsed in everything that they do, it’s very impressive, very, very impressive,” said McDavid. “And when you do break them down they’ve got a heck of a goalie to backstop them.”

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The comments took on a different tone however when McDavid was asked how the Oilers could achieve that same level of cohesion, with McDavid pointing the finger at his own coach.

“That’s a coaching question,” said McDavid. “You can ask Knober that question. Obviously we’ve been playing together a long time and we feel like we are somewhat rehearsed and organized but not to their level.”

Is McDavid throwing his coach under the bus? Let me know your thoughts in the comments.