The Edmonton Oilers' goaltending has been heavily criticized during these tournaments. However, the fact remains that the Oilers are back in the Stanley Cup Final for the first time since 2006, and Stuart Skinner is a big reason why.
In Game 6 of the Western Conference Finals against the Dallas Stars, Skinner stopped 34 of 35 shots he faced. The Oilers had 10 shots on goal in the series-clinching game. Even though everyone points to Connor McDavid and what he did, if it wasn't for Stuart Skinner, the Oilers would have gone to Game 7 against the Dallas Stars.
“He was unbelievable tonight,” McDavid said after Game 6 to the media. “We're not sitting here talking about winning if it wasn't for him. We're on a plane to Dallas if it wasn't for Stu.”
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Skinner held down the fort. The penalty kill continues and has now killed 28 straight opposition power plays. They say your best penalty killer is your goaltender, and the Oilers are finding that Skinner can come up with big saves when he needs to.
Unlike previous years, Skinner is not giving up bad goals that could cost the Oilers. Everyone will point to Jason Robertson's hat trick in Game 3 of the Western Conference Final, but not many wanted them back without that goal.
As NHLRumors.com wrote, the Edmonton Oilers had to make a move in Round 2 of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Head coach Kris Knoblauch decided to give Skinner a break to rest and reset and allow Calvin Pickard to right the ship for the Oilers.
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And rightly so, there was a point where Skinner had a .870 save percentage. That wouldn't do it for the Oilers in the playoffs. However, after a few games out of the Vancouver series, Knoblauch returned to Stuart Skinner in a must-win Game 6 and was rewarded.
In his last eight games, Skinner has a 6-2 record with a 1.81 goals against average and a .920 save percentage. Those numbers allowed many of his most prominent critics to be silenced.
“I can't say enough good things. I think (Skinner) learned a lot from last year's playoffs, and he's putting it to good use,” McDavid said after Game 6. “A lot of people doubt him, a lot of people say things about him. He is a great goalkeeper – he really is. He's been good to all of us for a long streak, he's given us a chance every night. Tonight, you stole one from us.”
However, some will still question his ability to win the Oilers the Stanley Cup. Skinner needs to play within himself. He has to make the money he has to make. At some point, Stuart Skinner will need a few more saves. For the Oilers to win, Skinner must continue to play like this.
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If Skinner puts up a .923 save percentage, as he did in the Western Conference Final, in the Stanley Cup Final, Edmonton can win its first Stanley Cup championship since 1990 and end a Canadian drought that dates back to 1993.
Not only has it been a rocky road for the Edmonton Oilers to get to this point, but so has Stuart Skinner. He had a .854 save percentage to start the season, and over the last 51 games, he posted a .913 save percentage. He needs to be good enough for the Oilers.
He has the ability to steal games for the Edmonton Oilers. Skinner did it in Game 4 of the first round against the Los Angeles Kings and did it again against the Dallas Stars.
All eyes will be on Stuart Skinner when the puck drops Saturday night in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final, but one thing's for sure: if he steals one game and plays well enough in others, the Oilers could hit the big one. The Florida Panthers team.
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