Oilers Trust Pickard for Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final
The Edmonton Oilers have announced a crucial change in goal for Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final, opting for Calvin Pickard as the starter instead of Stuart Skinner. This decision comes after Pickard’s performance in Game 4, where he achieved a key victory that tied the series at 2-2. Pickard, 33, has proven to be a reliable goalie for the Oilers. He replaced Skinner in the third period of Game 3 and again after the first period of Game 4. In this last encounter, Pickard made 18 consecutive saves before Sam Reinhart of the Panthers sent the game to overtime. He finished the game with 22 saves from 23 shots, securing the victory for the Oilers.Pickard, with a decade of experience in the NHL, has played for six different teams. His arrival in Edmonton a couple of years ago has been fundamental, and now he is proving his worth in the final. During this postseason, Pickard has proven his worth, even replacing Skinner in the first round against the Los Angeles Kings. His performance has been notable, with a 6-0 record until an injury gave Skinner the starting position again in the series against Vegas. With his Game 5 victory, Pickard joins a select group of goalies in Stanley Cup playoff history, being the fourth to win at least 7 consecutive decisions after not having started in his team’s first playoff game. In total, Pickard has played nine games with a save percentage of .896 and a goals-against average of 2.69. The decision to bench Skinner was not easy for the Oilers. Captain Connor McDavid highlighted that Skinner was not to blame for the goals, and coach Kris Knoblauch mentioned that the decision was based on the previous victory and Pickard’s great saves. Skinner and Pickard are the second goaltending duo in NHL history to achieve at least seven wins in a single Stanley Cup playoffs run. This change of goalies in the Stanley Cup Final is an uncommon event. The last time multiple goalies from a winning team recorded decisions in the final, without an injury intervening, was in 1972, when the Bruins alternated between Gerry Cheevers and Eddie Johnston. Pickard has the support of his teammates. Evander Kane describes him as a “normal guy” with a lot of experience, which facilitates the transition on the team. In addition to the change in goal, Viktor Arvidsson will replace Kasperi Kapanen in Edmonton’s offensive lineup. The Oilers will look to take the lead in the series against a Panthers team that has proven to be a formidable team away from home, with a playoff record of 9-3. Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final is scheduled for Saturday night. Historically, the winner of Game 5 in a tied 2-2 series has won 73% of the time.I think today’s could be considered the most important match of my life, but the last one already was until the next one arrived. It’s a repetitive cycle for me.
Calvin Pickard
