Calvin Pickard Sends Stuart Skinner Message After Saving Oilers' Season
Calvin Pickard Sends Stuart Skinner Message After Saving Oilers' Season originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
The Edmonton Oilers were in a familiar spot after 20 minutes of Game 4: down three goals to the Florida Panthers, searching for a spark, and once again turning to backup goalie Calvin Pickard.
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With Stuart Skinner pulled for the second straight game—this time after allowing three goals on 17 shots in the first period alone—it was Pickard's time again.
The 32-year-old answered, just as he has all postseason, and discussed his unscheduled appearance in Game 4 after the game, praising his teammate even though Skinner struggled in net before getting pulled.
'I felt for [Skinner] today,' Pickard said. 'He came ready to play today, he made some big saves early, we just didn't have it as a team early and I think [Knoblauch] just wanted to switch it up.'
The switch worked this time, as Pickard stopped 22 of 23 shots in relief, allowing only a last-minute equalizer with 20 seconds left in regulation before Edmonton went on to secure a 5–4 overtime win. It wasn't just a clutch performance—it was personal.
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Pickard started the playoffs with a strong first-round run before suffering a lower-body injury in Game 2 against Vegas. Skinner reclaimed the net from there and helped the Oilers reach the Stanley Cup Final. But after a shaky stretch following Game 1, including allowing 13 goals in three games, the net is shifting again.
Pickard's most critical save came in overtime—a glove deflection on a Sam Bennett one-timer that bounced off the crossbar.
'I kind of read it pretty well, and then I looked in my glove and it wasn't there,' Pickard said. 'Then I heard the crowd oohing and aahing and it was a good bounce.'
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'He makes those stops at the key moments that we really need them,' Leon Draisaitl said. 'He's been nothing but spectacular for us.'
Edmonton Oilers goaltender Calvin Pickard (30) squirts his face with water after coming into a game.Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images
Pickard and Skinner have combined to win 14 games this postseason, but Pickard is an impeccable 7-0 with a 2.69 goals-against average and .896 save percentage in nine games, starting six of them.
With the series tied 2–2 and Game 5 looming Saturday in Edmonton, Pickard appears locked in as the starter, with the finals now turned into a best-of-three series.
Related: Taylor Swift's Gesture in Oilers-Panthers Game Reflects Stanley Cup Final Madness
Related: Leon Draisaitl's Immediate Reaction to Oilers' Comeback Win Against Panthers
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 13, 2025, where it first appeared.
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