Oilers Pickard Should Be Starting Goalie
One of the biggest storylines from last night was the battle for the Edmonton Oilers net. From my vantage point, the Oilers need to give Stuart Skinner a break.
Calvin Pickard.
James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports
Luckily they can do that for the next couple games because of the play of Calvin Pickard. On this road trip Pickard has out performed Skinner. Call it fatigue or call it what you will, the Oilers need to stop having Skinner start every game and give more starts to Pickard.
As we saw in the playoffs last year, Skinner can get worn out from playing too much. We saw him go from a 2.73 goals against average (GAA) and a .914 save percentage (SV%) in the regular season to 3.68 GAA & .883 SV% in the playoffs.
Stuart Skinner.
Kim Klement Neitzel-USA TODAY Sports
Skinner's two starts on this road trip have been brutal. Nine goals allowed on 35 shots. A .783 SV% against the Tampa Bay Lightning and .667 SV% last night against the Carolina Hurricanes.
Pickard has been tremendously better. Only five goals allowed on 45 shots between the Florida Panthers game and last night's contest. That works out to a .871 SV% against the Lightning and .929 SV% last night.
Calvin Pickard & Stuart Skinner.
James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports
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Skinner has been like the rest of the team this year - inconsistent and needing a shock to their system to facilitate change. Perhaps starting Pickard for the next three to four games will give Skinner the jolt he needs.
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