Oilers coach Knoblauch will take new approach with Edmonton's goaltending

And now that Connor McDavid has signed a contract extension, the entire fans-focus is squarely on the net, with every goal and save analysed, as was the case with Edmonton's second game of the campaign.

"There's a lot of attention on Stuart in particular; Stuart made a bad play in the first game," GM Stan Bowman said after the Oilers lost the first regular season game versus the Flames.

Now, Edmonton typically used Calvin Pickard every third game as the back-up last year. This year, with the spotlight on winning and zero margin for second-chances, head coach Kris Knoblauch opted to start Calvin Pickard only two games into the season.

The decision paid-off, as the Oilers won 3-1 against Vancouver. What now? Does he continue with Pickard for game 3 against the New York Rangers tomorrow night, or does he return to Skinner?

Last season, Skinner started in goal 50 games, Pickard 31, and Olivier Rodrigue only one. Skinner went 26-18-4 with a .896 save percentage, while Pickard posted a 22-10-1 record with a .900 save percentage. Even then, Pickard was the better goalie.

In the post-season last year, Pickard replaced Skinner after two losses in the first round and led Edmonton to four-consecutive wins over the Kings and two over the Golden Knights. Pickard then suffered an injury, and only then did Pickard take back the net.

Knoblauch's recent decision to play Pickard suggests Pickard may not have the luxury of being the starter by default. The trade with the Utah Mammoth for Connor Ingram earlier this month means Edmonton has another starting goalie option in the American Hockey League they can utilize should one of the two goalie faulter.

Kris Knoblauch has set the precedent of a short leash this season, justifiably so, as the last two years it was taken for granted that Skinner was the better goalie, yet underperformed, while the number 2 Pickard played better.

Results will win the day in goal. Each regular season game should be played with the intensity of the post-season, and the better goalie rewarded. That should be the system, in my opinion.