Stuart Skinner will be back in net for the Oilers in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final, even after giving up five goals in their brutal 6-1 loss to the Panthers.
Head coach Kris Knoblauch is sticking with his young goalie, despite pulling him late in Game 3 after Florida’s Aaron Ekblad scored on a perfect power-play setup.
Truth is, Skinner couldn’t do much about most of those goals. The whole team fell apart in front of him.
But the numbers haven’t been pretty lately. Over his last four games, Skinner’s save percentage has dropped to .860 – well below what you’d expect from a playoff starter.
It wasn’t an easy call for Knoblauch. He could have turned to backup Calvin Pickard, but that would’ve been a huge gamble.
Here’s why sticking with Skinner makes sense:
He’s actually outperformed Pickard in these playoffs, even if neither has been spectacular. Skinner’s got a slightly better save percentage (.894 to .888) and has allowed fewer goals per game.
Plus, we’ve seen Skinner bounce back before. After losing his starting job earlier in the playoffs, he came roaring back with an incredible seven-game stretch where he stopped 94.4% of shots and won six games.
That hot streak was a big reason the Oilers knocked out both Vegas and Dallas – no small feat.
Pickard, on the other hand, is a career backup who’s played just eight playoff games in his 33 years. Throwing him into what’s basically a must-win game would be risky.
The smart move? Give Skinner another shot, but keep him on a short leash. If things go south early in Game 4, Knoblauch can always make the switch.
Doing it the other way around – starting Pickard and having to bring in a shaken Skinner later – could be a disaster.
The Oilers’ Game 3 collapse wasn’t just on their goalie. The whole team needs to be better, and Skinner’s earned the chance to help turn things around.
After all, he’s done it before this postseason. Why not again?
