Edmonton Oilers Sending Personal Message to Goalie Stuart Skinner

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Liam McCormick
October 31, 2024 (12:22)

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The Edmonton Oilers are facing their worst nightmare with Connor McDavid unavailable with injury, and in their first game without him, they're sending a message to their starting goalie.

Coach Knoblauch is starting backup Calvin Pickard in net against the Nashville Predators, taking away a start from Skinner on the day before his birthday. It seems to be a personal message to the goalie who hasn't been able to find a shred of consistency this year.

Stuart Skinner has been a hot-and-cold goalie almost throughout his career, but so far this year he's once again reaching nearly unplayable territory. It seems that you can tell right away if he's on or off, depending on if he allows a goal on the first shot. Skinner has had some decent starts, including one shutout against Pittsburgh, but it's wedged between too many poor starts.

So far this season, there's been several concerning signs about Stuart Skinner revealed. An NHL goalie analyst has revealed Skinner the worst goalie in the league at lateral movement, and his save percentage is declining year over year as part of a larger NHL trend.

Last season, Cal Pickard actually had a higher save percentage than Stuart Skinner - a .909 compared to a .904. It's not like Pickard is going to become the Oilers starter, but many fans are wondering if they should start to get more even splits in net, and just to roll with the hotter goalie.

Turning to the backup goalie in such an important game, their first without Connor McDavid and before Skinner's birthday, does feel like Knoblauch is losing a little patience with Skinner. It's still only been 7 games this season and he has time to get it back, but every game matters in the standings, and right now Skinner isn't helping the Oilers.