EDMONTON – Heartbreak is never easy to deal with. Fortunately for the Edmonton Oilers and Stuart Skinner, they’ve dealt with it before.

In speaking with Derek Van Diest of NHL.com, the Oilers' starting goaltender revealed what was different about losing the Stanley Cup Final to the Florida Panthers the second time around. He also discussed what he did differently in his offseason training.

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“I think going through it the first time, you go through that experience in the summer and then you realize the things you did well and the things you didn’t do well,” Skinner said to Van Diest. “So going through it a second time, but being able to say you went through this does help you get over it quicker, just because you have to go back into training and do it all over again.”

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“It’s a quick turnaround, and we know how much time we have. So, we know what the summer training looks like, so we feel our best going into the season.”

As far as this offseason is concerned, he held back in his timeline to return to on-ice activities.

“I think I got back on the ice a little too quick last summer,” Skinner revealed about last year. “Going into the season, I want to be as fresh as I can, as strong as I can. Just mentally being able to let go and put hockey aside for a couple of weeks and have that excitement of wanting to get back and get back on the ice and get back to work, I’ve definitely found that.”

“It was hard to stay off as long as I did.”

Here’s hoping that his excitement to return will translate into another successful season for the Oilers, one that ends better than the last two have.

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