Calvin Pickard Steps Up for Oilers in Crucial Playoff Game

EDMONTON, Canada — Calvin Pickard will start for the Edmonton Oilers against the Los Angeles Kings in Game 3 of the Western Conference First Round on Friday night. This comes after the Oilers lost the first two games of the series, and they are looking to avoid falling into a 3-0 deficit.

Coach Kris Knoblauch made the decision to replace Stuart Skinner following a tough 6-2 loss in which Skinner allowed five goals on 28 shots. With a 6.11 goals-against average and .810 save percentage in the first two games, Skinner was under scrutiny for his performance.

Proud of his performance this year, Pickard expressed confidence in his approach. “I’ll approach it the same way I’ve approached every game as an Oiler: go out and do my job and give our team a chance to win,” he said after morning skate.

During the past two seasons, Pickard has played a backup role and has a playoff record of 1-1. In the regular season, he boasted a 22-10-1 record, demonstrating his ability to perform under pressure.

Last season, Pickard stepped in during crucial playoff moments, achieving notable performances against the Vancouver Canucks. Knoblauch shared, “Calvin’s come in and played some really good games for us, especially since January.”

Skinner’s high level of play was evident during his 36-game regular season, but his recent head injury complicated his return. Teammates have acknowledged that the defensive struggles are not solely his fault. “We’ve been hanging our goalie out to dry,” defenseman Darnell Nurse remarked.

Despite the oilers’ struggles, Pickard believes his teammates have performed well while he was in goal. He aims to deliver sound goaltending and credits team plays for the series outcome. “We have such a good team in here, and we have more to give for sure,” he said.

Calvin Pickard’s journey reflects resilience in the face of challenges, and tonight’s game presents him with another opportunity to prove his worth against the Kings.