At a crucial moment for the Edmonton Oilers, coach Kris Knoblauch remains cautious about who will be the starting goalie for Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final against the Florida Panthers.
Pending Decision
With the series on the brink of elimination, Knoblauch has not revealed whether Stuart Skinner or Calvin Pickard will defend the goal. The coach is looking for the player who is in the best position to secure the victory.“Ultimately, it’s who we think is in the best position to win us a game. It’s about who’s looking really good at that moment, and then we make our decision,” Knoblauch stated.
Kris Knoblauch, coach of the Edmonton OilersPickard, 33, replaced Skinner in Game 5, but the Oilers suffered a defeat. Knoblauch defended Pickard’s performance, attributing the goals conceded to high-risk situations created by the Panthers. Skinner, for his part, was substituted in Games 3 and 4 in Florida. The coach considers Skinner’s resilience and the team’s in general, highlighting their ability to perform under pressure. Before Game 5, Pickard had won his first seven playoff games with Edmonton, making him the fourth goalie in Stanley Cup history to achieve such a feat after not starting his team’s first playoff game. In general, Pickard has a 7-1 record with a save percentage of .886 and a goals-against average of 2.85. Skinner has a 7-6 record with a save percentage of .891 and a goals-against average of 2.99. Knoblauch has consulted with several members of the Oilers organization regarding the goaltending decision, including General Manager Stan Bowman, assistant coach Paul Coffey, and goaltending coach Dustin Schwartz, as well as some Edmonton players. He also considers each goalie’s workload. The Game 6 represents an opportunity for the Panthers to become the third team of this century to repeat as Stanley Cup champions. The Oilers captain, Connor McDavid, expressed his enthusiasm for the challenge, emphasizing the importance of playing with the Cup in the building. The Oilers are facing elimination for the first time in the 2025 postseason. Winger Corey Perry emphasized the need to recover after a disappointing performance and be ready for the next game.
