Oilers Start Stuart Skinner In Stanley Cup Final Elimination Game 6
The Edmonton Oilers have named Stuart Skinner as their starting goaltender for Tuesday\'s elimination Game 6 against the Florida Panthers, with the team trailing 3-2 in the Stanley Cup Final.
Skinner replaces backup Calvin Pickard, who started Game 5 in Edmonton\'s 5-2 loss. The 26-year-old goaltender was previously benched after struggling in Games 3 and 4 in Florida, giving up eight goals on 40 shots across both contests.
Coach Kris Knoblauch cited Skinner\'s elimination game experience as a key factor in the decision. The goaltender has appeared in six elimination games over the past two seasons, including three against Florida in last year\'s Stanley Cup Final.
\"Stu has been in a lot of high-pressure games. He\'s played really well,\" Knoblauch said. \"We looked at the amount of elimination games he\'s played in. Every game that he played in, they were really solid if not spectacular performances.\"
Skinner was instrumental in forcing Game 7 against the Panthers last season, stopping 20 of 21 shots in Edmonton\'s Game 6 victory. The Oilers ultimately lost that series in seven games, marking Florida\'s first Stanley Cup championship.
Despite recent struggles, Oilers star Leon Draisaitl expressed full confidence in Skinner\'s ability to perform under pressure.
\"He\'s amazing in the playoffs and had incredible games this year. There\'s just a trust factor that we know that he can get the job done for us,\" Draisaitl said.
The Oilers also made lineup changes, inserting defenseman John Klingberg for Troy Stecher and forward Kasperi Kapanen for Viktor Arvidsson. Edmonton needs consecutive victories to capture their first Stanley Cup since 1990.