Stuart Skinner will start for Edmonton Oilers in elimination game against Florida Panthers
Much ado about nothing, that saga about who'll be in net for the Edmonton Oilers.
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It was always going to be Stu Skinner for Game 6 despite all the subterfuge from Oiler coach Kris Knoblauch, who is usually more firm and forthright.
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All this talk Monday from Knoblauch, saying he was taking input from a long list, including his players, everybody offering up an opinion, short of owner Daryl Katz, was, frankly, idle chatter.
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Even though Calvin Pickard has been a warm and fuzzy playoff story with his seven wins, winning six straight at one point until Tomas Hertl fell on his leg in the Vegas second-round series, he is still the backup. Skinner got the Oilers to Game 7 last June, losing 2-1 to Sergei Bobrovsky.
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He got the hook in Game 4 here, but only because the Oilers were awful in the first 20 minutes, and Knoblauch wanted to wake up his team, so he tapped Pickard on the shoulder, and he was outstanding for 51 minutes in the Oilers' rally and OT win.
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But Pickard lost Game 5 at Rogers Place in one of the Oilers' worst playoff games of this Cup run, when they once again fell behind early to the Panthers and chased the game and lost 5-2. Pickard was beaten four times on 18 shots. So, again, they were always returning to Skinner in the elimination game because he's their guy.
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'He's played in a lot of high-pressure games and played well,' said Knoblauch. 'You look at the amount of elimination games he's been in. There was six last year and in every single game he was solid or put in spectacular performances.'
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So, it's Stu vs Bob with the Stanley Cup in the house here.
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'Definitely feels good and I have the confidence of my teammates,' said a calm, composed and often self-deprecating Skinner, who refreshingly always talks on Oiler game mornings, unlike so many goalies.
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'We went to Game 7 of the Stanley Cup finals last year, and Stu was amazing. There's just a trust factor there; we have full belief in him. We know that he can get the job done for us and we're looking forward to getting back home (for a Game 7),' said Draisaitl, who finished the big rally to tie the series 2-2 when Pickard took over.
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Edmonton Journal
6 hours ago
- Edmonton Journal
These are the players Edmonton Oilers General Manager Stan Bowman should keep...and kick
Article content It is decision time. While the Edmonton players and their fans spend time dealing with the emotions of consecutive losses in The Stanley Cup Finals, the Oilers General Manager's job is instead to forge ahead immediately. Article content Stan Bowman has already signaled that his job is to keep this club in the running for Lord Stanley's mug and has suggested some areas where he will focus. It will mean retaining many players, but replacing others. So, who will he kick and who will he be compelled to keep? Article content Yes, there are automatics where you may go 'Duh, Leavins'! And yes, some of these guys have time left on their contracts, no move clauses, and other such things. But as I like to say: There is more than one way to skin a cat. You may be one of those who think the whole thing should be blown up. That is your prerogative. But I contend that a team that gets to the final in back-to-back years does not require major surgery. Parameters: We will rate any player still in the Edmonton organization from this regular season and/or playoffs that played a single game or more. That is thirty-four players, both skaters and goalies. The list is in order of regular season games played. Ready? Set? Go! Kick or Keep EVAN BOUCHARD. Keep. If you are one of the people who think Bouchard will not be worth the money he is sure to get in an extension or that he should be shipped out of town, all I can say is…give your head a shake. Article content CONNOR BROWN. Kick. Brown played his best hockey in five years. But he can get more elsewhere for what the Oilers should spend on a fourth liner. I would not hold that against him. BRETT KULAK. Keep. Hometown guy has contributed three consecutive seasons of excellent post-season performances plus his best regular season ever. VASILY PODKOLZIN. Keep. Value contract. Hard-to-play-against, younger player with a defensive conscience and good wheels. COREY PERRY. Keep. Yes, this club needs an infusion of youth. But it is clear the forty-year-old Perry is an important part of this team's DNA and is coming off an impressive year. Needs to be a value contract, though. There is substantial risk. ADAM HENRIQUE. Keep. Some will not agree, and I hear you, but Henrique proved his worth in the playoffs with stout defensive play and reliability in the faceoff circle. He is a good 3C on any competitive team. Article content MATTIAN JANMARK. Kick. I respect the players' contributions, but a twenty-something should have that roster spot. RYAN NUGENT-HOPKINS. Keep. As the cap rises his contract will remain a relative bargain. If his fine post-season performance is any indication, this fan favorite still has lots left in the tank. DARNELL NURSE. Keep. I can hear the detractors howling now. But look, even if I agreed with you who exactly is taking his contract? And at what transaction cost? TY EMBERSON. Keep. Young, physical, affordable, right shot D-man. Signed. ZACH HYMAN. Keep. As Joni Mitchell famously wrote, 'you don't know what you've got 'til it's gone.' JEFF SKINNER. Kick. Perhaps if the entire year had gone the way the back half did. But it did not. LEON DRAISAITL. Keep. Franchise player. Signed long-term. CONNOR MCDAVID. Keep. Franchise player. If you can, sign him long-term, too. Article content VIKTOR ARVIDSSON. Kick. Not without attributes but it has clearly not worked out for either side. TROY STECHER. Keep. Signed for another year on an impossibly cheap contract for his worth. MATTIAS EKHOLM. Keep. Until I see a 100% healthy Ekholm struggle like he did at the end of the Florida series, I will still believe he is a Top four D-man all day. KASPERI KAPANEN. Kick. Useful player like his tools. But let's be honest. You can find these guys in October for the league minimum. STUART SKINNER. Keep. So, you want to toss out a twenty-six-year-old home-grown goalie with fifty games of postseason experience and two cup appearances? With whom? And for how much? The G.M. owes it to the organization to cast about, but… DEREK RYAN. Kick. He plans to retire, though, so the decision is academic. Admirable career. CALVIN PICKARD. Keep. He has done nothing but help this franchise. Even if they acquired a third goalie, he would be excellent depth. Article content MAX JONES. Kick. No offence to the player, but the pro scout who liked him so much should be looking over his shoulder. JAKE WALMAN. Keep. Terrific acquisition, Bowman's best to date. A well-rounded, still young, all-situations D-man on a decent deal. NOAH PHILP. Keep. Big, still fairly young right-handed center. RFA. A two-way deal should be possible. Zero risk. JOHN KLINGBERG. Kick. Made a solid contribution, so much so that he can get better money elsewhere, like Connor Brown. And good for him if he can. JOSH BROWN. Kick. But who will take that contract? TRAVIS DERMOTT. Kick. Too tough of a lineup for him to crack. DRAKE CAGGIULA. Kick. 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In the weeks to come, I will be producing a series of articles where I dig deeper into some of these…particularly the ones I believe need to leave town. Stay tuned. Now on Bluesky @ Also, find me on Threads @kleavins, Twitter @KurtLeavins, Instagram at LeavinsOnHockey, and Mastodon at KurtLeavins@ This article is not AI generated. Recently, at The Cult… In memory of Bruce McCurdy, 1955-2025. Article content Latest National Stories
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Winnipeg Free Press
13 hours ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
The Brad Blizzard: Panthers star's love for desserts reaches a new level
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