Former Carolina Hurricanes [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/carolina-hurricanes]star Jeff Skinner is currently playing in the post-season for the first time in his career as a member of the Edmonton Oilers. It certainly was a long road for Skinner to play playoff hockey, as the 33-year-old is currently in his 15th NHL season. During Skinner's eight-year stint as a member of the Hurricanes [https://news.google.com/publications/CAAqLQgKIidDQklTRndnTWFoTUtFWFJvWldodlkydGxlVzVsZDNNdVkyOXRLQUFQAQ/sections/CAQqEAgAKgcICjCvqtILMO7F6QMwmeDfCA?hl=en-CA&gl=CA&ceid=CA:en], they missed the playoffs each season. He then spent the next six seasons of his career with the Buffalo Sabres, where they also did not qualify for the post-season each year and still haven't since 2011. Yet, now on a stacked Oilers team, Skinner is finally experiencing playoff hockey. However, Skinner has spent most of this post-season as a scratch for the Oilers. After recording an assist and a minus-2 rating in the Oilers' Game 1 matchup against the Los Angeles Kings in the first round, Skinner was scratched for every game until Edmonton's Game 5 contest against the Dallas Stars in the Western Conference Final. While Skinner was the odd man out for so long, he certainly stepped up in Game 5 when given the chance to play again. At the 8:07 mark of the first period, Skinner scored the first playoff goal of his NHL career to give Edmonton a 3-0 lead. Skinner's first playoff goal was a nice one, too, as he secured the puck in the slot and beat Stars goaltender Casey DeSmith five-hole. Skinner getting his first playoff goal is certainly a big moment, as it helped play a role in the Oilers' 6-3 win over the Stars in Game 5. With it, the Oilers have advanced to the Stanley Cup Final for the second year in a row and will look to get revenge on the Florida Panthers from here. Skinner was selected by the Hurricanes with the seventh-overall pick of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft. In 579 games with the Hurricanes from 2010-11 to 2017-18, he posted 204 goals and 379 points. Recent Hurricanes News Hurricanes Could Have Big Decision To Make With Brent Burns [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/carolina-hurricanes/latest-news/hurricanes-could-have-big-decision-to-make-with-brent-burns] 3 Hurricanes Who Likely Won't Be Back Next Season [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/carolina-hurricanes/latest-news/3-hurricanes-who-likely-won-t-be-back-next-season] Hurricanes Star Gets Big Praise From Matthew Tkachuk [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/carolina-hurricanes/latest-news/hurricanes-star-gets-big-praise-from-matthew-tkachuk] 3 Hurricanes Who Must Shine In Game 5 vs. Panthers [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/carolina-hurricanes/latest-news/3-hurricanes-who-must-shine-in-game-5-vs-panthers] Hurricanes' Frederik Andersen Bounced Back At Big Time [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/carolina-hurricanes/latest-news/hurricanes-frederik-andersen-bounced-back-at-big-time] Charles Barkley Makes Bold Hurricanes Prediction For Game 5 [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/carolina-hurricanes/latest-news/charles-barkley-makes-bold-hurricanes-prediction-for-game-5] Photo Credit: © James Guillory-Imagn Images
