Oilers insider sends a hard warning to goalie Stuart Skinner before playoffs
Photo credit: Imagn Images
The Edmonton Oilers have had some serious struggles in the goal crease this season, and now insider Bob Stauffer is issuing a sort of warning to Stuart Skinner.
Stuart Skinner has played great in his last two games since returning from injury, but he finished the season with an .896 save percentage - far below the average of .900.
Oilers insider Bob Stauffer earns Stuart Skinner will be on short leash in playoffs
Stauffer has reported that Stuart Skinner will in fact get the start for Game 1 of the playoffs, but that he may be on a very short leash.
Oh, I think he's starting Game 1. I don't know how long the leash is because Pickard's played pretty well.
I think Stuart Skinner needed a bit of a break. Any question marks with him from anyone out there is fair. The Oilers won a playoff series last year against Vancouver with the lowest save percentage in NHL history of a starting goalie in a playoff series. Then he turned around.
He starts this series and any questions until this point, completely fair based on the lack of consistency in his game.
- Bob Stauffer
I think Stuart Skinner needed a bit of a break. Any question marks with him from anyone out there is fair. The Oilers won a playoff series last year against Vancouver with the lowest save percentage in NHL history of a starting goalie in a playoff series. Then he turned around.
He starts this series and any questions until this point, completely fair based on the lack of consistency in his game.
- Bob Stauffer
Stauffer hits the nail on the head with the biggest problem around Skinner being his consistency. At times he can be an average or above average goalie, but for other long stretches, he can be nearly unplayable.
Stuart Skinner has struggled with consistency this season
It's been reflected in the data in Skinner's season, which shows solid stretches of a good few games, before being back in the negative for a stretch.
The Oilers are making the right call to start with Skinner, and see how he rolls. However, if he falters early on or begins to really cost the Oilers, a switch to Pickard could come earlier this season.
Calvin Pickard himself has had a great season, actually posting a higher save percentage than Skinner. He's a capable backup, and the difference between him and Skinner may not be that wide - especially when Skinner is struggling.
The Oilers goaltending is a fair question mark heading into the playoffs this season. If they can hold up to at least an average performance, it should be enough to allow the Oilers skaters to take over any game.
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AVRIL 17 | 861 ANSWERS Oilers insider sends a hard warning to goalie Stuart Skinner before playoffs Do you think Stuart Skinner is a good enough goalie to win a Stanley Cup? | ||
| Yes | 425 | 49.4 % |
| No | 436 | 50.6 % |
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