The Edmonton Oilers are turning to Calvin Pickard as their starting goalie for game four against the Vancouver Canucks.
The Edmonton Oilers are turning to Calvin Pickard as their starting goalie for game four against the Vancouver Canucks.
Pickard has never started a playoff game in his NHL career, and his first NHL playoff appearance was in game three.
Oilers starting goalie Stuart Skinner has struggled mightily in the second round. He's 1-2 with a 4.40 GAA and .793 save %. He's faltered at the most critical time. Veteran teammate Sam Gagner was seen giving the struggling netminder a pep talk after the Oilers' morning skate.
Canucks starting goalie Artus Silovs and Pickard have faced each other in a postseason game before. During last season's opening round of the AHL playoffs, the Abbotsford Canucks and Bakersfield Condors played each other. In game two of that round, Silovs got the best of Pickard.
The Canucks came into this second-round series with question marks in goal because of Thatcher Demko's injury, but those have since been answered with the play of Silovs.
Pickard was in the AHL to start the season, and after Jack Campbell's struggles, the Oilers opted to waive their big free agent signing for the well-traveled Pickard.
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