Oilers goaltender Stuart Skinner has been mired in a harsh slump this season, and gave a heartbreaking answer admitting that the criticism and inconsistency can get to him sometimes.
The Oilers will be turning back to Skinner as their starter today, but Coach Knoblauch called out Skinner directly asking for more consistency from his goaltender.
Stuart Skinner looks dejected giving tough answer about his recent struggles
When asked about the recent tough stretch Skinner has been going through, the Oilers goalie said he needs to try to avoid being too hard on himself mentally - and avoid dwelling on issues outside his control.
I just wanna show up, even if things aren't going as well as I'd like. Things are happening and I don't have a lot of control over it, and even though that does happen, it's about how you react. Sometimes you can get caught up in being hard on yourself.Just trying to be a bit more kind to myself, trying to be a good teammate as best I can & keep on showing up, keep on doing your best even though stuff happens.
- Stuart Skinner
Skinner's comments suggest that at times, he's taken his recent struggles and criticism surrounding his play very personally.
It could be incredibly tough for an athlete to hear the high level of criticism so frequently. Repeat criticism will affect confidence, which in turn negatively affects performance.
However, Skinner's taking the best mentality possible when going through a stretch like this. He just wants to show up, work hard, and support his teammates.
Oilers fans rallying around Stuart Skinner after the trade deadline
Skinner hasn't been as good as the Oilers need him to be this season, with his save percentage dipping to .896 through 45 games this season. However, Oilers fans are still rallying around their hometown, homegrown goalie.
At the end of the day, it's on management if the Oilers goaltending isn't enough to carry them back to the Stanley Cup Final this season.
Stuart Skinner is actively giving his best, and Oilers fans rallying behind him is a great sight in light of these heartbreaking comments today.
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