NHL concussion spotters forced Edmonton Oilers goalie Stuart Skinner out of a crucial game Thursday night – a decision that’s left both the player and team frustrated.
With just five minutes left in a tied game against the league-leading Winnipeg Jets, Skinner had to leave after Jets forward Gabriel Vilardi accidentally stumbled into him.
The contact seemed pretty mild. Vilardi backed into Skinner, causing the goalie’s head to bump the net as he fell backward.
“I felt totally fine,” Skinner told reporters this weekend. “I was just kind of shook up with the play. Obviously when you get knocked over, you got some adrenaline going so you just want to take a second.”
But that second wasn’t enough for the NHL’s concussion spotters. Following their safety protocols, they ordered Skinner out of the game for evaluation.
You could see how upset Skinner was as he headed down the tunnel to the locker room.
The timing couldn’t have been worse. Backup goalie Calvin Pickard had to come in cold during the most intense part of the game against the NHL’s top team.
“It is really tough, it is frustrating for sure,” Skinner said. “It’s five minutes left, you’re playing the best team in the league. Potentially going into overtime, and it puts Calvin in a really tough spot.”
That’s exactly what happened. The game went to overtime, where the Oilers ultimately lost.
Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch shared his star goalie’s frustration when speaking to media after the game.
While player safety is crucial, the incident has sparked debate about finding the right balance between protecting players and avoiding unnecessary disruptions to crucial game moments.
