In Edmonton, Alberta, the Edmonton Oilers made a strategic change in their goaltending lineup for Game 3 of the second-round playoff face-off against the Vegas Golden Knights. Stuart Skinner was called in to replace Calvin Pickard on Saturday night.
Calvin Pickard had become the Oilers’ primary goaltender partway through a series against the Los Angeles Kings. However, his status was deemed day-to-day, as announced by Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch.
In the previous game, Pickard demonstrated an exceptional performance in Edmonton’s 5-4 overtime victory during Game 2, achieving 28 saves. Despite this success, a moment of concern arose when Pickard appeared to be uneasy during the third period and was observed adjusting his left leg.
Initially, Pickard stepped in as a substitute for the Oilers’ regular season starter, Stuart Skinner, when the team found themselves down 2-0 in the first-round matchup with the Kings.
With Pickard in goal, the Oilers saw a significant turnaround, securing six consecutive wins and bringing a 2-0 series advantage back from Las Vegas to the home crowd at Rogers Place.
Stuart Skinner, who previously held the primary goaltending role, has accumulated a record of 19-17 in playoff games throughout his career with the Oilers.