Facing elimination by the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday, the Edmonton Oilers were relying on their starting goalie to make a crucial return.
Start Skinneru was back in goal for the Oilers after being benched following a rough Game 3 where he allowed four goals. Backup Calvin Pickard had stepped in for the next two games, splitting them 1-1, and the Canucks held a 3-2 series lead going into Game 6 at Rogers Place.
So far, Skinner had conceded 12 goals on 58 shots against the Canucks, resulting in a 4.40 goals-against average and a .793 save percentage — significantly worse than his regular-season stats of a 2.69 average and .905 percentage.
“I’m very excited to get back in the net and do my job again,” said Skinner, 25, after Saturday’s morning skate. “I got some good practice in and watched Calvin perform.”
“He was amazing. He stepped up when needed and has been reliable all year.”
The Oilers hoped Skinner’s return would ignite the team, just as Pickard’s initial playoff start had.
“It’s all about competitiveness,” Skinner said about refocusing during his time off. “The Canucks crash the net hard, so I need to push back. My teammates supported me, telling me I’d get back in net and that I’m crucial to our success. I’m using this as an opportunity to improve.”
Teammates believed Skinner was ready.
“I saw him working hard, watching video, and practicing,” said Oilers captain Connor McDavid. “When he does that, I expect him to play well.”
Skinner had shown resilience before, bouncing back from poor performances, including a 5-1 series win against the Los Angeles Kings in the first round. However, this series against the Canucks had been challenging for him.
“Stu had time to reset and reflect on his game,” said Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch. “He’s been our guy all year, and we need him in net for situations like this.”
Watching from the bench was tough for Skinner, despite cheering for Pickard, who posted a .915 save percentage in the playoffs.
“It was hard because you want to be out there, but I was thrilled for Calvin,” Skinner said. “He played great, got us tied in the series, and did his job well. It was a chance for me to work on my mental game and be the best teammate I could be.”
