Pickard saves the day for Oilers in a backup role in 5-4 OT win over Panthers in Game 4 of Cup Final
Edmonton Oilers goaltender Calvin Pickard (30) takes a break during the second period of Game 4 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Final against the Florida Panthers.Thursday, June 12, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Florida Panthers right wing Mackie Samoskevich (25) defends Florida Panthers center Evan Rodrigues (17) as goaltender Calvin Pickard (30) deflects a shot on goal during the third period of Game 4 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Final Friday, June 13, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Edmonton Oilers players surround goaltender Calvin Pickard (30) after defeating the Florida Panthers in overtime during Game 4 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Final Thursday, June 12, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
A Florida Panthers shot hits the crossbar behind Edmonton Oilers goalie Calvin Pickard during the first overtime period in Game 4 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Final in Sunrise, Fla., Thursday, June 12, 2025. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)
A Florida Panthers shot hits the crossbar behind Edmonton Oilers goalie Calvin Pickard during the first overtime period in Game 4 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Final in Sunrise, Fla., Thursday, June 12, 2025. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)
Edmonton Oilers goaltender Calvin Pickard (30) takes a break during the second period of Game 4 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Final against the Florida Panthers.Thursday, June 12, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Florida Panthers right wing Mackie Samoskevich (25) defends Florida Panthers center Evan Rodrigues (17) as goaltender Calvin Pickard (30) deflects a shot on goal during the third period of Game 4 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Final Friday, June 13, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Edmonton Oilers players surround goaltender Calvin Pickard (30) after defeating the Florida Panthers in overtime during Game 4 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Final Thursday, June 12, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
A Florida Panthers shot hits the crossbar behind Edmonton Oilers goalie Calvin Pickard during the first overtime period in Game 4 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Final in Sunrise, Fla., Thursday, June 12, 2025. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)
A flat and undisciplined start by the Edmonton Oilers left coach Kris Knoblauch no choice but to turn to Plan B — as in backup goalie Calvin Pickard — a mere 20 minutes into Game 4 of their Stanley Cup Final series against Florida.
With no disrespect to starter Stuart Skinner, who had little help in allowing three goals on 17 shots, it was the wakeup call the Oilers needed on Thursday night.
Advertisement
Pickard stopped 22 of 23 shots and the Oilers overcame a 3-0 first-period deficit in a 5-4 overtime win over the Florida Panthers to even their Stanley Cup Final series at 2.
'Unfortunate for Stu to be pulled there. Didn't give him many opportunities,' Knoblauch said. 'We needed to change things up, and the change was great the way he played.'
Pickard improved to 7-0 this postseason and has put himself in position to take over the starting duties for Game 5 with the series returning to Edmonton on Saturday.
'I felt for him today,' Pickard said of Skinner, who was also yanked in Game 3 after allowing five goals on 23 shots in an eventual 6-1 loss. 'He came ready to play today, made some big saves early. We just didn't have it as a team early.'
Advertisement
That changed when the Oilers responded by scoring three times in outshooting the Panthers 17-10 in the second period in what amounted to a near historic comeback.
Edmonton became the first road team to rally from down three to win a Cup final outing since the Montreal Canadiens against the Seattle Metropolitans in 1919. Only six teams have come back from down three in the final in NHL history, the last time in 2006.
Though Pickard allowed Sam Reinhart's bad-angle goal to force overtime with 20 seconds left in regulation, the 10-year journeyman enjoyed numerous standout moments before Leon Draisaitl sealed the win 11:18 into the extra frame with his NHL single-postseason record fourth overtime goal.
No save was bigger than the one Pickard made some seven minutes into overtime, when Sam Bennett's shot from the slot caught the top of the goalie's glove and caromed off the crossbar.
Advertisement
'I felt it hit my glove. I looked in my glove and didn't see it in there. And then I heard some big cheers and I'm like, 'Oh, this couldn't have gone in,'' Pickard said, not knowing what happened until he watched the replay on the scoreboard. 'Yeah, good save and good bounce, too.'
Another key save came 12 minutes into the second period on the third shot Pickard faced and with Edmonton trailing 3-1.
Jake Walman's giveaway in his own end, led to Florida's Anton Lundell driving in alone only to have Pickard kick out his right pad to make the initial stop and then smother the rebound.
'I think that save kind of got me going,' Pickard said.
Advertisement
The same could apply to the Oilers, who responded with Darnell Nurse's goal about 80 seconds later, and Vasily Podkolzin tying the game at 3 with 4:55 left in the period.
'It's hard to describe the situation that he gets put in sometimes,' Draisaitl said of Pickard.
'He's coming in, he's cold. It's not easy, and he makes those stops at the key moments that we really need them,' he added. 'He's been nothing but spectacular for us.'
___
AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
San Francisco Chronicle
21 minutes ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
3-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer works his way back to rotation with Triple-A rehab start
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Three-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer topped out at 94 mph and threw 56 pitches on Friday night in his first Triple-A rehab outing since the Toronto right-hander suffered inflammation in his right thumb. Scherzer, 40, signed a one-year, $15.5 million deal with the Blue Jays in February. Scherzer left his debut start with the team against Baltimore on March 29 after three innings because of soreness in his right lat muscle. The next day, Toronto put Scherzer on the injured list because of inflammation in his thumb. Scherzer gave up two runs, struck out four and walked none over 4 1/3 innings in an anticipated start for Triple-A Buffalo against the Columbus Clippers. He waved in appreciation to a crowd that gave him a big ovation as he walked off the field. 'It'll be the most watched Triple-A game for a while,' Blue Jays manager John Schneider said. 'Or most uploaded Triple-A game.' Scherzer did allow a 425-foot home run to one of the top 100 prospects in minor league baseball, Columbus left fielder C.J. Kayfus. Schneider said ahead of Toronto's game Friday night in Philadelphia that the box score didn't matter to him. He wanted to make sure Scherzer came out of the game healthy. 'I want to see how Max feels tomorrow,' Schneider said. 'I could care less about the line score. I want to see 60-65 pitches. I want to see the fastball velo is good and he's coming out healthy.' Scherzer has had two cortisone injections this season to relieve inflammation in his thumb. He was transferred to the 60-day injured list last month, but became eligible to return May 29. Scherzer won World Series titles with Washington in 2019 and Texas in 2023. He won his first Cy Young Award after going 21-3 with a 2.90 ERA in 32 starts for Detroit in 2013. The eight-time All-Star earned consecutive NL Cy Young Awards with Washington in 2016 and 2017. Schneider said Scherzer would likely need one more rehab start before he can join the Blue Jays' rotation. The Blue Jays are in second place behind the Yankees in the AL East. 'The plan right now is to meet us here and probably throw a bullpen and then go back and do another one,' Schneider said. ___
San Francisco Chronicle
22 minutes ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
Giants' Matt Chapman to start rehab for sprained hand in a week
LOS ANGELES (AP) — San Francisco Giants third baseman Matt Chapman can begin rehabbing his sprained right hand in a week. He visited Dr. Steven Shin in Los Angeles on Friday and was told he has to wear his splint until then, the team announced. The Giants were in town to open a three-game series at Dodger Stadium. Chapman got hurt sliding into first base against Atlanta last Sunday. He went on the injured list two days later and is eligible to return on June 20. The 32-year-old infielder indicated he could be on a faster track. Melvin added that until Chapman starts rehabbing, it's tough to forecast a return date. Chapman was batting .243 with 12 home runs, 30 RBIs and seven stolen bases. The five-time Gold Glove winner signed a $151 million, six-year deal last year.
San Francisco Chronicle
22 minutes ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
Guardians' Austin Hedges activated from 7-day injured list
SEATTLE (AP) — The Cleveland Guardians activated catcher Austin Hedges from the 7-day injured list prior to Friday night's game against the Seattle Mariners. Hedges, 32, was placed on the list retroactive to last Thursday after he was struck on the helmet on a backswing by the New York Yankees' Jazz Chisholm Jr. during a game on Wednesday. It marked the fifth time Hedges — who is hitting .113 with three home runs and three RBIs this year— has been placed on the injured list because of a concussion across 11 MLB seasons. 'They're all very similar, at least my version of them," Hedges said. "Apparently there's a handful of different types of brain injuries, and mine have been pretty consistent just at least with the symptoms. So, it was nothing new for me. Luckily this one wasn't very bad and didn't take that long to get over it.' Hedges said his symptoms started to clear up roughly three days removed from the incident. He visited a specialist in Pittsburgh prior to joining the Guardians in Seattle, one which he had worked with during his first stint in Cleveland from 2020 to 2022. Hedges said he was appreciative of the Guardians not rushing him back to play too quickly. 'We have such an amazing staff, and they're always looking out for all of us," Hedges said. "But, I felt like we handled everything perfectly and just happy that it was the minimum amount of time.'
