Stuart Skinner Continues to Hold His Own as Connor Hellebuyck's Replacement Despite Losing Record

The record may not show it, but Stuart Skinner has been everything the Winnipeg Jets could have hoped for in net.

Despite losing his fifth game of the season in Sunday's Heritage Classic, the 27-year-old Edmonton native has held his own in every way as Connor Hellebuyck's replacement. Skinner stepped into enormous shoes when he arrived in Winnipeg and has done all he can to live up to the hype, and even exceed it.

Skinner's 3-2-3 record looks lackluster, but his 2.60 goals against average and .911 save percentage both rank in the top 13 in the NHL. He has had his share of strong performances, including earlier in the season, holding Stanley Cup contenders like the Minnesota Wild and Colorado Avalanche to two goals each, winning both starts.

It has been a tougher road lately, with Skinner dropping his last four starts, but his play has not been entirely the issue. The first of those losses was the worst, as it came against the Chicago Blackhawks, as he allowed four goals against one of the league's worst offenses. They were riding the high of Connor Bedard's return and caught Skinner in the crosshairs. 

In his last three starts, Skinner bounced back, holding the St. Louis Blues and two contenders in the Habs and Stars to just seven goals combined over three starts. The advanced stats back up the solid start with Skinner owning a .845 save percentage on high-danger chances, landing in the 70th percentile, and a .934 save percentage at even strength, which ranks in the 88th percentile.

He is also among the league leaders in goals saved above expected, one of the most telling goaltending metrics. His 5.9 ranks sixth in the NHL, ahead of names like Ilya Sorokin and Logan Thompson.

Skinner's hot start should not be understated as he has filled the shoes of a three-time Vezina Trophy winner quite well and has given Winnipeg one of the better starting goaltenders in the league and a chance to win every night, with a goaltender who actually wants to be there.

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