Oilers Coach Knoblauch Makes Bold Decision With Starting Goalie After Blowout Game One Loss
The Edmonton Oilers were blown out in their first game of the year, when goaltender Stuart Skinner was pulled after 5 goals on only 13 shots.
In just game 2, Oilers Coach Knoblauch is looking to shake things up and perhaps send a message. Backup goalie Calvin Pickard will start Game 2, even after Skinner had plenty of rest and time to reset.
Skinner is undoubtedly the starting goalie for the Edmonton Oilers, and he took the team to great heights last season with the Stanley Cup Final appearance. However, he still has those stretches were he can lose his game that reduces how much confidence the Oilers can really have in him. Last season to begin the year Skinner struggled brutally, and for a while in the playoffs, Knoblauch had to turn to Pickard to get a solid start from his goaltender.
After a couple days of rest and against a rebuilding team in the Chicago Blackhawks, it would've been a great chance for Skinner to bounce back and get some confidence from the first win of the year. Given the circumstances for Skinner, Knoblauch is turning to Calvin Pickard.
After practice, Knoblauch said that this is only a scheduled start for Pickard, unrelated to the result in Game one. That may be true, but again considering the chance for the starting goalie in Stuart Skinner, it seems like a surprising choice.
After Game one, Skinner took some blame for the loss and specifically said that the game was a little too quick for him. That's never something you want to hear from a player, let alone your starting goaltender. The Oilers arguably had a weak training camp, and Skinner may need more time to get up to speed.
Regardless, the Oilers should be just fine with Calvin Pickard in net tonight against the Chicago Blackhawks. Pickard actually had a better save percentage than Skinner last year, and against a rebuilding Blackhawks team on a back to back, the Oilers are in a prime position to get their first win. If they lay another goose egg tonight, then there may be some valid concerns to raise about the state of the team, and being ready for the regular season.
| POLL | ||
Do you agree with the decision to start Calvin Pickard tonight? | ||
| Yes, get a different look with Pickard | 60 | 89.6 % |
| No, Skinner should have had the chance | 7 | 10.4 % |
| See Results | 0 | 0 % |
| List of polls | ||
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