Edmonton Oilers goalie Stuart Skinner hasn’t had it easy this season. Born and raised in the city, the local lad has faced plenty of criticism for inconsistent performances. That is not unusual in a hockey-mad town that can quickly turn on its own.
But Skinner is proving his doubters wrong.
In Game 3 of the Western Conference Final, he put on a standout performance, helping the Oilers crush the Dallas Stars 6 to 1 at home. It was arguably his best game of the Stanley Cup Playoffs so far, and it could not have come at a better time.
“Skinner was the difference,” said Dallas forward Mikko Rantanen. “Even when it was 3–1, he made a massive save, and a few seconds later it was 4–1. He was their MVP.”
It is rare for a goalie to be named the first star when their team scores six, but Skinner’s second-period performance made all the difference. He stopped 20 shots in that period alone, holding off a strong push by Dallas after they narrowed the gap to 2–1.
“We knew they’d come at us hard,” Skinner said. “They had speed and zone time, but we managed to hang in there and reset going into the third.”
Earlier in the playoffs, Skinner was benched after a rough start against the LA Kings. But since returning in the second round against Vegas, he has bounced back strongly. He has a 4–2 record, a 1.64 goals-against average, and a .936 save percentage, including three shutouts.
Oilers captain Connor McDavid, who scored twice in Game 3, praised Skinner’s performance. “We didn’t give him much help early on, but he gave us the chance to find our legs and win.”
Skinner also credited backup goalie Calvin Pickard, who stepped in while he worked on his game. With Pickard now injured, Skinner is expected to carry the load for the rest of the playoffs.
“It’s all about rhythm,” Skinner said. “You don’t always feel on top of it, but I’ve been building from my last few games.”
The Oilers now lead the series 2–1. Game 4 is back at Rogers Place and fans are hoping for another strong performance. After losing Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final last season, the team is hungry for redemption.
Coach Kris Knoblauch backed his goalie. “He has responded brilliantly. Even when things don’t go well, Skinner rebounds quickly and plays a solid game. That is what we need.”
Photo: Steph Chambers/Getty Images
