The Edmonton Oilers find themselves in a deep hole early in their first-round playoff series against the LA Kings, losing Game 1 by a 6-5 score and suffering a blowout in Game 2, 6-2. With their season hanging by a thread, the Oilers are reportedly set to make a bold move in net by starting backup goalie Calvin Pickard in Game 3, according to Oilers insider Robert Tychkowski of the Edmonton Journal.
After a shaky start from Stuart Skinner, who allowed 11 goals across just two games, the decision to start Pickard seems logical yet risky. Skinner, though not solely responsible for the losses, simply hasn’t provided the elite-level goaltending the Oilers need in the playoffs. Tychkowski noted that although Skinner hasn’t played particularly badly, he certainly hasn’t been the difference-maker the team requires given their defensive lapses and poor penalty killing.
Why the Oilers Are Trusting Calvin Pickard in Game 3
Calvin Pickard stepped in midway through Game 2 after Skinner surrendered five goals on 28 shots. Although Pickard wasn’t able to stop the bleeding entirely, his presence brought a slight improvement to the team’s stability in net. The Oilers’ coaching staff clearly hopes that Pickard can inject confidence back into a lineup desperately in need of a spark.
From my perspective, the Oilers’ decision to turn to Pickard underscores a deeper issue in Edmonton’s crease. Should the Oilers face elimination at the hands of the Kings, expect significant offseason changes. Rumors are already circulating that the Oilers might target Boston Bruins‘ goalie Jeremy Swayman, potentially in a blockbuster trade involving talented young defenseman Evan Bouchard. Such a trade would signal a shift in Edmonton’s strategy, prioritizing goaltending reliability to complement their high-powered offense.
This decision to start Calvin Pickard is pivotal—not just for the game at hand but for the Oilers’ future goaltending situation as well. Pickard’s performance could very well shape how aggressively the team pursues offseason upgrades.
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