Oilers fans should feel confident about starting Stuart Skinner – Hockey Writer – Oilers goalkeeper

The Edmonton Oilers received some tough news this morning as confirmation that Calvin Picard won’t start the third game. The 32-year-old was listed as a daily injury to daily injuries, although many thought it might have happened in the third game where he accidentally fell to his leg, which seemed to have happened in the second game, which seemed to be his leg, which was a scene that shocked him.

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With Pickard’s out, the Oilers will try to come to Stuart Skinner with a 3-0 lead with the Vegas Golden Knights. The 26-year-old was underperformed early in the first round, resulting in his replacement by Picard and a low confidence in fans. That said, there are many reasons to believe that Skinner not only survives, but also thrives for the Oilers in this case.

Skinner has been here before

The 2024 Stanley Cup playoffs are not a good start for Skinner. His average highest rate in the first round series with La Kings was replaced by Calvin Pickard in the second round, while the Vancouver Canucks were replaced by Calvin Pickard. However, he eventually got a call to restart the Oilers trailed 3-2 and scored two wins to end the series.

Skinner stayed in the net for the rest of the playoffs and helped the Oilers reach Game 7 of the Stanley Cup final. He was outstanding in Game 7, allowing only two goals, which left the Florida Panthers heartbroken at a 2-1 run.

Skinner showed in that run that his mental toughness could take a break, reset and be better than ever. This impressed from goalkeepers who are still inexperienced, especially in the playoffs. Now that he is older and has past experience, he should be allowed to do more things this time.

Skinner has a strong record against Vegas

Although he has far less than Skinner in the past two regular seasons, he has performed well whenever he competes with the Golden Knights. In fact, he played some of the best hockey in his last five games against the Western Conference Power.

Skinner dates back to the 2023-24 season, with five starts with the Golden Knights. In those five games, he was kicked 148 of 162 shots to save a percentage of .914 (SV%). In 2024-25, he played against the Golden Knights in three games, and he stopped 85 times in 92 strokes, a dazzling .924 SV%.

Being successful with a certain team can provide great confidence for goalkeepers and should do wonders for Skinner in tonight’s game, maybe if Pickard misses more time. While the polarized oilman goalkeeper is far from perfect, he has the ability to integrate a good start and has done a great job with the Golden Knights in recent history. Fans won’t be surprised to see more in the show tonight.

Skinner can change the narrative

When Skinner was replaced by Pickard in last year’s playoffs, it seemed that all the fans and media were talking about how he wasn’t the guy who led the Oilers to the Stanley Cup. Instead of letting that go to him, he was able to stop the noise and play the best hockey of his career. A year later, fast forward, he was in the same position because in the playoffs, he was criticized arguably any other player in the league.

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The current situation provides Skinner with a great opportunity to change the narrative surrounding his name again. If he wins tonight, the Oilers may turn to him in Game 4, whether Picard is considered ready or not. He has a chance to regain his status as a starting goalkeeper for the Oilers and bring them back to the heights they reached a year ago.