Stuart Skinner will make the start between the pipes for the Oilers against the Golden Knights in Game 3 at Rogers Place on Saturday night with Calvin Pickard day-to-day because of an injury
© 2024 Leila Devlin
EDMONTON, AB – Callin’ on Stu.
With Calvin Pickard being day-to-day with an injury, goaltender Stuart Skinner will step into the crease to make the start on Saturday night with the Edmonton Oilers returning home to Rogers Place for Games 3 & 4, holding a 2-0 advantage on the Vegas Golden Knights in their Second Round series.
“Obviously not the situation we want to be in, but that’s playoffs,” Skinner said pre-game after confirming he’d make the start. “You normally need two goalies to go all the way, so I’m excited to go back to the net. I’ve had some time to work on some things and I’m ready to go.”
Skinner conceded the crease following Games 1 & 2 of the First Round against the Los Angeles Kings after allowing 11 goals on 58 shots, leading to Pickard running away with the starter’s job and winning six straight games to enable the Oilers to eliminate Los Angeles and build a two-game lead over Vegas.
“I’ve had a lot of time, so I’ve been able to watch Cal do some amazing things out there and our team play really well down the stretch,” he said. “It’s really hard winning six games in a row, so it’s been an amazing job by the team and I’m happy to go back in there and just do my best.”
The 26-year-old is no stranger to this situation, having given way to Pickard for Games 4 & 5 of the 2024 Second Round against the Vancouver Canucks before returning between the pipes for Games 6 & 7 to assist in finishing off their Pacific Division rivals and move on the the Western Conference Final.
Skinner is feeling pumped up and ready for the opportunity to retake the crease after working on his game and watching Pickard lock it down over six straight wins, and he feels this is his chance to make his mark in the 2025 playoffs with the Oilers looking to go 3-0 up on the Golden Knights on Saturday.
“I’ve been here before, so nothing’s new to me,” Skinner said. “It’s an opportunity again for me to go into the net and do my job and just give these guys a chance to win. That’s all I can do. So I’m just going out there and play my game. I know the building is going to be loud, so I’m really excited to go back in.”
More to follow.
Stuart speaks about getting the start in Game 3 against Vegas on Saturday
View the Oilers Projected Game 3 Lineup vs. Vegas below:
Draisaitl – McDavid – Perry
Kane – Nugent-Hopkins – Hyman
Frederic – Henrique – Brown
Podkolzin – Janmark – Arvidsson
Nurse – Bouchard
Walman – Klingberg
Kulak – Emberson
Skinner
Pickard
