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Ryan S. Clark, NHL reporter
After a week on the bench, Stuart Skinner returned to the net and helped the Edmonton Oilers force a Game 7 in the second round of their series against the Vancouver Canucks.
Stewart, who last appeared in Game 3 after a struggling start to the series, made 14 saves in the Oilers’ 5-1 victory in Game 6 at Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta.
Game 7 will be played Monday at Rogers Arena in Vancouver, with the winner facing the Dallas Stars in the Western Conference finals starting Thursday at American Airlines Center in Dallas.
“I think we showed a lot of desperation by what we did tonight,” Picard said on the ESPN broadcast. “The players were blocking shots all over the place. I thought both teams played great. I have to give Vancouver a lot of credit, but I know they’re going to fight really hard, especially in their barn.” I think we’ll have to bring some more along with it. ”
Averaging 3.80 goals per game during the playoffs while boasting one of the best defensive structures in terms of limiting shots on goal and converting scoring opportunities, this is the Oilers’ formula for a spot in the Western Conference Finals.
But figuring out how the Oilers could mesh with Skinner’s most consistent version of their defensive structure was one of the challenges they were trying to solve in a series whose first five games were decided by goals. did.
In particular, although the Oilers held the Canucks to 19.3 shots in the first three games, Skinner averaged 4.63 points and had a save percentage of .790 through Game 3, falling behind in the series.
On Saturday, Skinner’s connection to the Oilers’ defensive structure finally clicked.
The Oilers were limiting their teams to 24.91 scoring chances per 60, while the Canucks were limiting them to 18 scoring chances in 5-on-5 play. They also held the Canucks to just seven dangerous scoring chances and didn’t allow one in the second period.
It was a night where Skinner showed defensive stability, allowing one goal on 15 shots, and the Oilers showed great momentum, scoring five goals. It was the third time this postseason that the Oilers scored five or more points, and the first time in the second round.
Oilers captain Connor McDavid, who finished with three points, said on Sportsnet after the game that Skinner didn’t have many shots, but did a “great job” in handling what McDavid thought was a dangerous opportunity. He said he did.
“We had no doubts,” McDavid said. “He’s a fighter. He’s always been a fighter. Our teams always react and he’s no exception. He reacted great and gave us a great performance.”
His role in the Oilers’ Game 6 win is the latest development in what has been another volatile season for the second-year goaltender.
A year ago, Skinner was a rookie who emerged as his hometown team’s No. 1 goaltender. He helped the Oilers reach the second round, but lost in six games to the eventual Stanley Cup champion Vegas Golden Knights.
Skinner was pulled in the final three games of the series, and his offseason was filled with question marks. Like the Oilers themselves, Skinner got off to a rocky start to the season, but found stability after the club fired coach Jay Woodcroft and hired Chris Knoblauch.
During that time, Skinner solidified his status as the team’s No. 1 goaltender — which is what made his performance in the first three games so unpleasant. As a result, in Game 3, which the Oilers lost, Knoblauch was selected as the starter for the third period, and in Games 4 and 5, Knoblauch was replaced by Calvin Pickard.
Pickard stopped 19 shots in the Oilers’ Game 4 win, but allowed three points on 35 shots in the 3-2 Game 5 loss to the Canucks.
After Game 3, Knoblauch said Skinner would return to action at some point, and that point was Saturday.
He and the Oilers are now one win away from the conference finals.
“Obviously, first of all, I think Calvin was great when he came in,” Skinner said. “He definitely got the job done and kept us going. He’s an unbelievable teammate. For me, I was able to rest a little bit and work on my game and feel good again. I was able to come out and do what I had to do. ”
