Edmonton Oilers to Start Stuart Skinner in Net for Must-Win Game 6
The Edmonton Oilers are turning to goaltender Stuart Skinner in a must-win Game 6 of their second-round playoff series against the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday.
Skinner, who has a 5-3 record this postseason with a 3.22 goals-against average and an .877 save percentage, will replace Calvin Pickard, who started Games 4 and 5.
The 25-year-old Skinner was in net for the first three games of the series before he was replaced in the third period of Game 3 after allowing four goals on 15 shots. Pickard came on in relief, making his NHL playoff debut at the age of 32, and posted a 1-1 record with a 2.21 goals-against average and a .915 save percentage.
“We’ve seen Stu play unbelievable, really well for us, steal games, just solid,” Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch said after the morning skate. “He’s been our guy all year. So given a situation like this, that’s who we want in net.”
The Oilers face elimination if they lose Game 6, as the Canucks hold a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series. Edmonton has followed up every loss with a win during this year’s Stanley Cup Playoffs, but they will need to do it again on Saturday to force a Game 7.
“You just have to take it one game at a time,” Oilers star Leon Draisaitl told reporters Friday. “We’ve got to go home and win one game at home. That’s all we have to do. Don’t think about the next game.”
Game 6 will be held at Rogers Place at 6 p.m. You can listen to the game live on 630 CHED, starting with The Faceoff Show at 4 p.m.
