Colorado struggled through Game 4 against the Dallas Stars and is now in a must-win situation going into Game 5. Former Colorado Avalanche goaltender Calvin Pickard is in for a big night. According to NHL insider Frank Seravalli, the Edmonton Oilers are starting Pickard in their Game 4 matchup against the Vancouver Canucks. This will be the 32-year-old's first career NHL playoff start. Hearing that the Oilers are turning to Pickard for Game 4 is not too surprising. Stuart Skinner has struggled this postseason, posting a .877 SV% and a 3.22 GAA in eight appearances thus far. His play has also gotten worse, as he has a .793 SV% in three starts against the Canucks this series. In Game 3, he allowed three goals on 15 shots. Pickard being expected to get a playoff start is just the latest accomplishment for the Avalanche's 2010 second-round pick. After not appearing in a single NHL game in 2022-23 and playing in just 12 NHL contests from 2019-20 to 2021-22, he cemented himself as the Oilers' backup this campaign. Calvin Pickard [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjA2NDMwNTU5MzM1ODg0NDk0/usatsi_23059253.jpg] Calvin Pickard Pickard had a solid regular season with the Oilers, as he had a 12-7-1 record, a 2.45 GAA, and a .909 SV% in 23 games. He will now look to translate his regular-season success over to the postseason for Edmonton. Pickard is entering this matchup with a lot of pressure on him. A loss will give the Canucks a 3-1 series lead and give them a real stranglehold on the series. It will be intriguing to see if Pickard can help the Oilers avoid this possibility and get them a much-needed win. Pickard appeared in 86 games for the Avalanche from 2014-15 to 2016-17, sporting a 28-44-6 record, a .914 SV%, and a 2.77 GAA. His tenure with the club ended when the Vegas Golden Knights picked him at the expansion draft. RECENT AVALANCHE NEWS 'We didn't play good enough': Avs lose 5-1 to Stars in Game 4 of Stanley Cup Playoffs [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/colorado-avalanche/latest-news/avs-lose-5-1-to-stars-in-game-4-of-stanley-cup-playoffs] Jonathan Drouin returns to lineup, Devon Toews out for Game 4 vs Dallas Stars [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/colorado-avalanche/latest-news/jonathan-drouin-returns-to-lineup-devon-toews-out-for-game-4-vs-dallas-stars] Avalanche strategy to win Game 4: 'It's got to be all about ourselves' [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/colorado-avalanche/game-day/avalanche-strategy-to-win-game-4-its-got-to-be-all-about-ourselves] Avalanche effort not enough, lose Game 3 to Stars [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/colorado-avalanche/game-day/avalanche-effort-not-enough-lose-game-3-to-stars]
