The Edmonton Oilers are looking to bounce back from their heartbreaking 4-3 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Determined to regain control of the series and protect their home-ice advantage, Connor McDavid and the Oilers face an uphill battle—especially after head coach Kris Knoblauch delivered a discouraging update on a key player.
So far in the NHL postseason, the Oilers have faced a true tale of two stories. When Calvin Pickard started in net, the Oilers have been undefeated, winning six straight games. However, when Stuart Skinner manned the crease from puck drop they have been winless, losing the three games Skinner started.
That stat might haunt McDavid, Knoblauch, and the Oilers as they gear up for Game 4 against the Golden Knights, with a very concerning update on Pickard’s health, who missed Game 3, putting an end to the team’s six-game winning streak.
Ahead of Game 4 at Rogers Place, Knoblauch confirmed a tough decision regarding the starting goaltender, sending a clear message to McDavid and company about Pickard—who has been their good-luck charm so far in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Calvin Pickard #30 of the Edmonton Oilers prepares to play against the New Jersey Devils at Prudential Center on March 13, 2025 in Newark, New Jersey.
Calvin Pickard won’t be available for the Oilers in Game 4 of the Western Conference Semifinal against the Golden Knights, as Knoblauch confirmed during his media availability on Sunday.
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Bounce back game
The news of Pickard’s missing his second-straight playoff game for McDavid’s Oilers further raises concerns in Alberta, as Edmonton is left with no option than start Stuart Skinner, who has been more of a liability than an asset so far in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Skinner’s head-scratching performances led to him losing the starting job after Game 2 of the First Round, and Pickard filling in with a perfect 6-0 record. However, as Pickard is physically unable to stand in net, Skinner returns.
Head coach Kris Knoblauch of the Edmonton Oilers looks on against the Chicago Blackhawks during the second period at the United Center on January 11, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois.
His return to action during Game 3 was far from encouraging for the Oilers, as a late mistake by the goaltender led to the game-winning goal for Vegas with 0.4 seconds left. However, Skinner didn’t think as low of his performance as fans certainly did, dropping a bold statement after the game.
“That’s a goalie’s job, just to give your team a chance to win every night. I thought I did,” Skinner said, via NHL.com. “Just a couple tough bounces here and there. We had a good bounce that kind of went off a skate and went in. Those types of things happen. I was happy that I was able to make a couple of big saves when we needed it, but I wasn’t able to finish it out.”
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“They both give us a chance to win every night” Oilers star Zach Hyman added. “I don’t think we lost last game because of [Skinner], by any means. I think we just have to play better in front of him.”
Worrisome numbers
The 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs haven’t been kind to Skinner by any measure. So far, the Oilers’ netminder ranks last among goaltenders with at least three games played, posting a save percentage of just .817. Even more concerning, he leads all playoff goalies in goals against average with a staggering 5.36 — more than two full goals higher than any other netminder in the postseason.
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Is Skinner the most to blame for his concerning performances?
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Skinner is fully capable of bouncing back, nevertheless. Still, his sharp decline in performance is a major concern in Edmonton. The same goalie who posted a .904 save percentage during last season’s Stanley Cup Final has yet to surpass a .840 mark in this year’s postseason.
