Oilers Forward Bounces Back In Big Way

EDMONTON -- It's not easy being an NHL head coach.

You need to know when to push guys, when to give them space, and when to put them in the press box. Sometimes, you get praise, but most often, you receive criticism.

Once again, however, Edmonton Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch made a coaching decision that paid off.

Yes, it's not every day that a team scratches a 40-goal scorer, but that is exactly what Knoblauch did with Jeff Skinner against the Anaheim Ducks on December 29th.

From Scratch To Scoresheet

In response, Skinner has recorded two points in three games. He has played three games since his single-game stint in the press box.

He recorded an assist on Friday night and scored his seventh goal of the year last night -- and it was a beauty.

That goal was a prime example of Skinner's hands and supreme skating ability. He's a fantastic offensive player who needs to be given the right opportunities.

And last night, he was given a great opportunity mid-game. During the third period, he was given a shift with Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid.

Personally, I did not like the coaching decision to scratch him, and I don't think he should be playing outside the top six. However, it appears that the healthy scratch has satisfied an itch.

Moving forward, it will take more than points in two straight games to get Skinner out of the doghouse. However, he's well on his way to accomplishing just that.

And when he eventually does, Knoblauch will have more hard decisions to make.

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