Yahoo Sports Oilers Don't Actually Need A New Goaltender
EDMONTON -- If it's not broken, don't fix it.
Despite several opinions to the contrary, the Edmonton Oilers' goaltending situation is solid. Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard give the team quality goaltending night after night.
Over their last 10 games, they have given the team exactly what it needed to win hockey games.
Stuart Skinner
Skinner has rebounded tremendously after a rough start. For the second year in a row, he hasn't gotten off on his best foot. That cost the team early in the year, but now he's found his game.
Over his last 10 starts he has the makings of a legitimate starting goalie. Skinner has a record of 6-3-1, to go along with a 2.34 goals against average (GAA), a .916 save percentage (SV%), and one shutout.
The Oilers top goalie also has five quality starts in that span. A quality start being a game where the goalie records a save percentage of league average or better.
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Calvin Pickard
Pickard has been the perfect backup goaltender. Over his last ten starts he has a tremendous nine wins.
Along with his nine wins, he has a 2.49 GAA, a .905 SV%, and six quality starts.
#LetsGoOilers Calvin Pickard Last 10 Starts:
9-1-0
2.51 GAA
.905 SV% pic.twitter.com/95zX3A4Z9y— Sportsnet Stats (@SNstats) January 28, 2025
Because a backup doesn't play every game they don't need to be game-breakers. They just need to come in and give their team the best chance to win. Luckily for the Oilers, Pickard has delivered that in spades.
Despite the odd bad goal allowed, the Oilers have a really good goalie situation.
It's not broken, so let's fix something else.
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