What a playoff it’s been for Stuart Skinner.
After getting off to a rocky start in Games 1 and 2 of the Edmonton Oilers’ first two playoffs games in which he allowed 11 goals against on 58 shots as the team lost both games, he was sent to the bench in favour of Calvin Pickard. He strung together six straight wins, the final of which came in Game 2 against the Vegas Golden Knights.
Late in that game, Pickard was shaken up after a Golden Knight fell on his leg, and while he played out the remainder of the match, he would land on the shelf, having to recover. It thrust Skinner back into the starting role, since having games with very high highs, and some low lows.
His first game back saw him allow four goals on 24 shots for a .833 save percentage, as the Oilers lost 4-3 to Vegas in Game 3, before posting back-to-back shutouts, turning aside 23 and 24 shots to end the series. Things fell off the rails in Game 1 against the Dallas Stars as the Oilers’ penalty kill collapsed in the third, with Skinner allowing five goals on 27 shots for a .815.
The highs continued in Game 2 against the Stars Friday night, as he turned aside all 25 shots he faced in Edmonton’s 3-0 shutout, giving him his fourth career playoff blank sheet. That saw him pass Bill Ranford (three) for second most playoff shutouts in playoff history, and it also saw him tie Curtis Joseph’s franchise record for the most shutouts in a single postseason.
Skinner’s got some help from those in front of him in these shutouts, with strong defensive play and a continued commitment to being better in that zone.
“We’re a different team than we have been in years past,” said Oilers captain Connor McDavid after the win. “Probably not as run and gun as we’ve been in years past, but I keep saying that we can play defence. Stu was great. A couple of breakdowns there that I didn’t like, especially in the third, but he was great.”
“The forwards are coming back really hard. Everyone’s selling out blocking shots that time of year. That’s what it takes. That’s been fun to watch.”
Skinner’s numbers are slowing improving in the playoffs, thanks to his shutouts, now sitting with a .890 save percentage across his seven starts. And if you look at his numbers just since he returned against Vegas, he’s racked up an impressive .927 save percentage.
He’ll be in the crease Sunday afternoon for the Oilers’ matinee Game 3 against the Stars in Edmonton.
