Stuart Skinner comments on Oilers playoff hopes during tough stretch
Photo credit: USA Today Sports
The Edmonton Oilers are in a major rut at this point in the season with 5 wins in their last 15 games, but goalie Stuart Skinner is confident that this will actually help them in the playoffs.
Stuart Skinner himself has been the subject of major criticism of late, as his save percentage has dipped well below league average and the Oilers hemorrhage goals against.
Oilers goalie Stuart Skinner says adversity will help team prepare for playoffs
Hockey players are always trying to find positives even in a losing streak, and in this tough stretch for the Oilers, Stuart Skinner and the team are seeing it as more adversity to overcome - and a quality test before playoffs. A few Oilers spoke with NHL writer Dan Rosen in a recent interview.
As a team, we've talked about it and we think it can be the best thing for us, going through something difficult and going through some adversity before the big stretch.
This could be perfect for us, going through this, having to battle it out, a good time for us to come together as a team and figure things out, so when it does come again - and it always does - we know how to deal with it.
- Stuart Skinner
This could be perfect for us, going through this, having to battle it out, a good time for us to come together as a team and figure things out, so when it does come again - and it always does - we know how to deal with it.
- Stuart Skinner
While it's a good mentality for the Oilers to take towards this recent losing streak for the team, they also need to acknowledge their poor results are coming from some poor play - especially from Stuart Skinner.
Consistency has been the major problem for Stuart Skinner this season. Even in this poor stretch of 15 games, he had a great effort against the Dallas Stars. However, there's only been one six game sequence all year where Skinner posted an average save percentage.
Oilers need to find the comeback gear from last season
The Oilers really do have the talent and ability to bounce back from adversity and dominate teams.
We've seen this team flip the switch after last season's poor start, and again after going down 0-3 in the Cup Final. Zach Hyman was one player to point out that the Oilers can turn it around, but it needs to happen fast.
You've got to go out there and do it, and the more you win, the more you build that inner belief, but we have a pretty strong foundation. You're in March now, it's right around the corner.
- Zach Hyman
- Zach Hyman
The Oilers team this year will have to prove they have the same comeback gear as their roster last year. With the level of play they're currently bringing, a first round exit looks more likely than another Stanley Cup final.
| POLL | ||
MARS 14 | 480 ANSWERS Stuart Skinner comments on Oilers playoff hopes during tough stretch Do you think the Oilers need more urgency to win now? | ||
| Yes, they're not urgent enough | 422 | 87.9 % |
| They'll be fine, they're keeping calm | 58 | 12.1 % |
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