Calvin Pickard is reported to be the starting goalie for the Edmonton Oilers tonight - but is that true or is something else afoot?
Calvin Pickard is reported to be the starting goalie for the Edmonton Oilers tonight - but is that true or is something else afoot?
EDMONTON -- This playoff series has not been short on drama.
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The Edmonton Oilers are looking to even the series once again before heading back to the Vancouver Canucks' home rink. Game three ended in a 4-3 loss for the Oilers despite out-shooting the opposition.
Goaltending was a big topic birthed from that game - and continues to be leading up to Game four tonight. Stuart Skinner was pulled after two periods in favor of Calvin Pickard. Pickard stopped all three shots he faced while Skinner made 11 stops on 15 shots that he faced.
This morning Frank Seravalli revealed the starting goalie for the Oilers tonight would be Pickard. Kris Knoblauch alerted the media yesterday that he would confirm the starting goalie at morning skate this morning.
Or will he?
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The playoffs often become a chess match between head coaches - is this another move that Knoblauch has up his sleeve? Oilers' fans should know by now that the coach has unwavering faith in his starting goalie. Does one game suddenly change that?
I would say that it doesn't - and just like Knoblauch kept things vague and close to the vest with Leon Draisaitl's return, he may take a similar approach to tonight's starting goalie.
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As a reminder, with Draisaitl he said that he was a "game time decision" yet the player was made available to the media as if he were playing a normal game. If Pickard is made available to speak to the media - then I would expect him to play.
If they decided to have neither goaltender speak, then I suspect this to be a red herring and that Skinner will be the starting goalie. Either way, today is sure to be an anxious day for Oilers fans as they wait to see who will play.
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