The Edmonton Oilers are rumored to be calling up Calvin Pickard. Can he save the Oilers season?
With a 2-8-1 record, the time for the Edmonton Oilers to mess around is over. While there is plenty of hockey to be played - 71 games - there is a sense of urgency surrounding the team and what they need to do to climb the standings and into a playoff position.
It seems like common knowledge at this point that Calvin Pickard will be recalled by the Oilers. He isn't an NHL starter, but he can serve as a backup in the short term.
There is a recent Stanley Cup winner that had to recall a goalie. That goalie played a pivotal role for the team in the playoffs. That team was the Vegas Golden Knights and the goalie was Adin Hill.
Adin Hill.Hill has played 108 NHL games to Pickard's 116. Hill's career goals against average (GAA) is 2.60 GAA while Pickard's is 3.04. Hill's career save percentage (SV%) is .912 and Pickard is sporting a .903 over his eight year career.
Pickard is doing extremely well in the AHL right now, but the NHL is a different animal. He will help in the short term, but don't hold your breath for a Hill-like performance to pull the Oilers into the playoffs.
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