The Edmonton Oilers sent a personal message to Stuart Skinner tonight by turning to Calvin Pickard, and the backup goalie continued to be excellent.
The Oilers made a bold move by starting Pickard the day before Stuart Skinner's birthday, which seemed to be a response to Skinner's inconsistent play this season. Pickard played a fantastic game, only allowing one goal with a .960 save percentage. Now, Oilers fans are calling for the team to keep starting the hotter goalie.
Stuart Skinner should be cut some slack after taking the Oilers to the Final last season, but so far this year, he hasn't brought the level of consistency that's required of a starting goalie. Skinner's had some decent performances this year, but too many nights when he allows the first shot on goal that takes the life out of the Oilers.
On the other hand, the veteran Cal Pickard has always been able to provide a steady presence in the net when he's called upon - including for a time in the playoffs last year. Pickard now has a higher save percentage than Skinner this year and last, and perhaps deserves more on an even split with Skinner.
If Pickard continues this success, Skinner shouldn't be considered the default starter for the time being. Plenty of NHL teams have tandems where they ride the hot goalie, and frankly, Skinner hasn't proven himself as an unquestionable starter.
The Oilers next set of games will be another back to back set, in the road in Calgary and back at home against the New Jersey Devils. Whichever goaltender gets the matchup against the stronger team at home could be a good sign of who Coach Knoblauch trusts the most in the crease right now.
