The Edmonton Oilers lost Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final 6-1 to the Florida Panthers. Oilers goalie Stuart Skinner was pulled after the fifth goal early within the third period in favor of Calvin Pickard. Earlier within the postseason, Pickard took over for a struggling Skinner and won six consecutive starts before getting hurt. Despite Pickard’s excellence earlier within the postseason, coach Kris Knoblauch just isn’t committing to anything before Game 4.
“No, we have not made a call on goaltending,” Knoblauch said, per NHL.com’s Mike Zeisberger. “And Stu [Skinner], I do not think had much probability on a lot of those goals.”
Skinner did shoulder among the blame when speaking with the media after the sport. “To be honest, some were chaotic, some were very nice shots. It got a bit of post lucky for them, a pair shots, but I mean, I’ve had my post luck, too. It goes each ways, they usually made some nice shots. … But as a goalie, you have got to give you a save. It doesn’t matter. It is a game of inches.”
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The Oilers took 21 penalties and put the Panthers on 11 power plays in Game 3, which cost them a key game within the Stanley Cup Final. It’s the most important reason they’re down 2-1 within the series, not their goaltending. But changing the goalie could provide the spark the team needs, because the Oilers showed earlier within the postseason.
Pickard is undefeated in postseason starts, going 6-0 in starts against the Kings and Golden Knights. But Skinner led them to the clinching wins against Vegas and won all 4 games against the Stars to clinch the Western Conference title. Knoblauch has two comparable options with the Stanley Cup Final potentially on the road.
Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final between the Oilers and Panthers is on Thursday at 8:00 p.m. Eastern.
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