Edmonton Oilers play musical chairs with goalie starter’s net just now

This in from Tony Brar of Oilers TV, news that Calvin Pickard is in the starter’s net for the Edmonton Oilers today as they prepare for Tuesday’s Game 1 vs the Las Vegas Golden Knights. Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch had Stuart Skinner in the starter’s net at Sunday’s practice.

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Knoblauch has said he’ll make his decision on which goalie will start against Vegas before the game, so presumably on Tuesday.

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EDM lines & pairings – Monday’s skate:

Draisaitl – McDavid – Perry
Kane – RNH – Hyman
Frederic – Henrique – Brown
Podkolzin – Janmark – Arvidsson

Extras: 53, 42, 46, 10

Nurse – Bouchard
Walman – Klingberg
Kulak – Emberson

Extras: 51, 85

Pickard
Skinner

My take

1. Winning the next game is all that matters in the playoffs. It’s hard to imagine that the Oilers will move away from Calvin Pickard, who just won four straight games to help vanquish the Los Angeles Kings, in favour of Stuart Skinner, who lost the first two games against the Kings.

2. Pickard let in an iffy goal on an outside shot from Brandt Clarke early in Game 6, but he also stopped a few dangerous chances, including seven straight Grade A shots in a row from the Kigns early in the game. That included huge saves on Trevor Moore’s breakaway, two tough inside shots, one by Jeff Malott, one by Mikey Andersson, and another breakaway, this time Warren Foegele, early in the second. He made a huge stop off a reboudn with five minutes left, this time foiling Clarke in the crease.

That bad early goal against had me wondering if there was a Game 7 whether Skinner might play. But Pickard’s big saves the rest of the game made a huge statement.

3. I strongly suspect the Oilers will go with a “win and you’re in” mentality for the Vegas series. If a goalie wins a game, he’ll play the next one. If he loses, he’ll be out.

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