Edmonton Oilers reveal surprising starting goalie decision, lineups before Game 4 of playoffs
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The Edmonton Oilers have taken to the ice for practice before facing the LA Kings in Game 4 of the playoffs, and have decided on Calvin Pickard as their starting goalie.
Reports surfaced yesterday that the Oilers were more so considering Skinner for Game 4, so if they keep with the decision to start Pickard, it will be a hard change in how the team views Skinner.
Edmonton Oilers practice with Pickard in starter's net, reveal lines at practice
The big news of today's lineup is that Pickard is set to be guarding the Oilers net once again, but they'll also be continuing some line changes made last game.
The Oilers will be committing to breaking up McDavid and Draisaitl on two separate lines again. Reuniting McDavid with Nugent-Hopkins and Hyman, two longtime linemates, brought some immediate success in Game 3.
Defence pairings will remain the same for tonight's game, despite Troy Stecher being cleared for a return to play. It was believed that Emberson could be scratched or the Oilers would run 11 forwards and 7 defenceman, but instead, Stecher isn't slated to play at all.
Oilers likely aren't playing mind games with Pickard as starting goalie
It's very possible the Oilers could be playing some mind games with their lineup at this stage of the playoffs, but it seems rather unlikely with the starting goalie.
Skinner has been struggling and if anything needs consistency to get back into the Oilers' crease. It wouldn't serve that purpose to disrupt his game day routine, and then ask him to find his game again tonight.
It would've made sense to go back to Skinner and get him re-introduced into the playoffs on home ice instead of the hostile environment in LA.
The fact that they're not going back to Skinner is a telling sign they've lost trust in him as their starter.
| POLL | ||
AVRIL 27 | 1024 ANSWERS Edmonton Oilers reveal surprising starting goalie decision, lineups before Game 4 of playoffs Do you think the Oilers will go back to Skinner in the playoffs? | ||
| Only if Pickard loses it | 650 | 63.5 % |
| Yes | 153 | 14.9 % |
| No | 221 | 21.6 % |
| List of polls | ||
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