EDMONTON – “You’re only human. Everybody goes through struggles.”

Zach Hyman is known for bringing humanity and vulnerability to his media scrums. And the words he spoke about his Edmonton Oilers teammate are no different.

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Stuart Skinner hasn’t had the easiest postseason. A lot falls on his shoulders, but he can’t take all the blame when things go bad.

After Sunday night’s 6-1 victory over the Dallas Stars, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins spoke about the importance of everyone, defenders and goaltenders alike, doing their part.

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“The way we play defensively impacts the goaltending so much,” Nugent-Hopkins told The Hockey News. “We need to be sharp in front of him, give him every chance to make the easy saves, and sometimes he needs to step up and make the big ones. He’s been doing that.”

“It’s definitely gotta go both ways."

Hyman further expanded on how everyone can relate to Skinner in some way with their own occupation.

“There’s times when you feel good about your job and times when you don’t,” Hyman explained. “It’s just amplified when it’s the goalie because he’s the last line of defense.”

“For him, to be able to battle back the way he has is just really impressive.”

Head coach Kris Knoblauch echoed similar sentiments about Skinner.

“For him to get dialed in and playing the way he is…as much help as you can give him, it lays on his shoulders,” Knoblauch revealed. “I think he’s done a tremendous job rebounding after a stretch when he hasn’t played well.”

“And his stretches usually aren’t that long; he usually rebounds quite quickly.”

Everybody in the dressing room is happy to see Skinner find his groove and lock it down. Standing outside the locker room, waiting to interview the players, cheers could be heard when Skinner walked in.

No matter what happens during the playoffs, the Oilers' belief in Skinner is unshakable. He’s their guy, their teammate, their brother, and he’s been playing incredible hockey.

“I think a lot of people were counting him out, and he came in again, and he’s been phenomenal. A big reason why we’re up 2-1.”

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