Goaltending has not been one of the consistent strengths for the Edmonton Oilers this season. Starter Stuart Skinner was, at best, a league-average goalie during the regular season and his overall playoff numbers have not been much better. He has had some ugly games and moments that have put the Oilers in a hole at times.
But he has also done a great job of digging the Oilers out of those holes and has reserved his best play of the playoffs for when the team has needed him most. Specifically when the team is facing elimination or has a chance to eliminate an opponent.
Entering Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final on Friday night with the Oilers again facing elimination, Skinner has posted a perfect 9-0 record and a stunningly high .947 save percentage in Games 4-7 of each Oilers playoff series.
Stuart Skinner has been his best in Games 4-7 of the 2024 #StanleyCup Playoffs. pic.twitter.com/EXWHixwWzL
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) June 20, 2024
Compare that to his play in the first three games of the series where he is 4-8 this postseason with only a .867 save percentage. It is a tale of two different goalies.
That might be an oddly specific stretch of games, but those games at the end are typically big moments in any series and Skinner has consistently risen to the challenge. He might have helped put them in a hole, but he has gotten them out.
He has been great in helping them close out a series (like in the Western Conference Final series against Dallas where he won Games 4-6 and was dominant in the decisive Game 6).
He has been a big part of their ability to play back into the Stanley Cup Final by backstopping them to wins in Games 4 and 5, stopping 61 out of 65 shots.
Connor McDavid is the biggest reason Edmonton is still going. Skinner has done his part in the past few games as well.
