Calvin Pickard & Stuart Skinner (Perry Nelson-Imagn Images) [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/42dbb53a-f7f5-4556-a697-696bbf509b9a.jpeg] Calvin Pickard & Stuart Skinner (Perry Nelson-Imagn Images) EDMONTON – “Ride the hot hand.” This sports adage is the most sound advice you can come across. Especially so, when it’s the playoffs. The Edmonton Oilers [https://www.nhl.com/oilers/] know a thing or two about the “hot hand.” Sometimes it’s a forward who can’t stop scoring points, or a defender who turns every play he touches [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/edmonton-oilers/game-day/i-cant-comment-on-that-oilers-kris-knoblauch-refuses-to-throw-bouchard-under-the-bus] into highlight reel gold. Bookmark The Hockey News Edmonton Oilers [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/edmonton-oilers/] team site to never miss the latest news [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/edmonton-oilers/latest-news], game-day [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/edmonton-oilers/game-day] coverage, and more [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/edmonton-oilers/players]. And other times it’s a solid goaltender. The Oilers are comfortable coming out with Stuart Skinner [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/edmonton-oilers/latest-news/how-oilers-stuart-skinner-is-better-than-darcy-kuemper] or Calvin Pickard [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/edmonton-oilers/latest-news/why-oilers-want-pickard-in-net-over-skinner] between the pipes. However, the coach’s true feelings are revealed by who they put out on the ice. And it looks like they know who will start Game 1 against the Vegas Golden Knights [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/vegas-golden-knights]. TRENDING OILERS STORIES New Oilers Defenders Can't Replace Ekholm [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/83d31693-0d8d-4a32-80f8-4d235e7cad65.jpeg] New Oilers Defenders Can't Replace Ekholm EDMONTON – Some people you just can’t replace. [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/edmonton-oilers/latest-news/new-oilers-defenders-cant-replace-ekholm] Oilers Can't Shoot Themselves In The Foot Now [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/edmonton-oilers/latest-news/oilers-cant-shoot-themselves-in-the-foot-now] New Oilers Schedule For Round 2 vs Golden Knights [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/edmonton-oilers/latest-news/new-oilers-schedule-for-round-2-vs-golden-knights] Oilers Give New Defender Contract Extension [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/edmonton-oilers/latest-news/oilers-give-new-defender-contract-extension] Oilers Vs. Kings: One Important Moment Changed Everything [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/edmonton-oilers/latest-news/oilers-vs-kings-one-important-moment-changed-everything] Ex-Oiler Woodcroft Strong Candidate For Coaching Gig [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/b9add9c6-d8a5-433d-9048-6121a65c55f9.jpeg] Ex-Oiler Woodcroft Strong Candidate For Coaching Gig EDMONTON – It's that time. [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/edmonton-oilers/latest-news/ex-oiler-woodcroft-strong-candidate-for-coaching-gig] Monday morning’s practice seemingly reveals their starting goalie for Round 2. As Ryan Rishaug reported on X [https://x.com/TSNRyanRishaug/status/1919429668555595944], Pickard is in the starter's net at practice. This shouldn’t surprise anyone. Yesterday, speculation arose that Skinner might be named the starter for Game 1. This came because he was in the net reserved for the starting goaltender’s routine. However, Monday morning, this changed. EXCLUSIVE: Mark Messier On Oilers, Budweiser, His Future & More [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/70223dd6-3696-4cbf-9146-f69a7f6c0daa.jpeg] EXCLUSIVE: Mark Messier On Oilers, Budweiser, His Future & More EDMONTON – Mark Messier loves Edmonton. [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/edmonton-oilers/latest-news/exclusive-mark-messier-on-oilers-budweiser-his-future-more] It’s possible that head coach Kris Knoblauch is playing psychological chess with the opposition. After all, it is the playoffs. Considering the praise that the players and coach have heaped on Pickard after his first-round performance, it would be a shocking decision to not have him be the starting goaltender for Game 1 against the Golden Knights. Regardless of whether Knoblauch names a starter after practice on Monday or waits until warm-ups on Tuesday night to reveal who gets the nod, it’s hard not to wish it were Pickard. Add us to your Google News [https://news.google.com/publications/CAAqBwgKMK-q0gsw7sXpAw/sections/CAQqEAgAKgcICjCvqtILMO7F6QMwn-DfCA?hl=en-CA&gl=CA&ceid=CA%3Aen] favourites, and never miss a story.
