Just twelve minutes were played in game 4 of the final series between the Florida Panthers and Edmonton Oilers, so Goalie Stuart Skinner had to grab three times. The result: After the first third, the 26-year-old was replaced by Head Coach Kris Knoblauch by Backup Calvin Pickard.
In the first phase of the game, 17 shots flew to the goal from Skinner, who had to let three of them pass against the Panthers at an early 0: 3 deficit.
The Canadian was replaced for the second time in a row from Thursday to Friday. He was on the ice 43:27 minutes when the Oilers game 3 lost 1: 6 and conceded five goals at 23 shots.
Pickard came into play there and held seven out of eight shots. Even now, the 33-year-old was once again a short-term commitment. “Of course you would like to be informed a little earlier as a goalkeeper,” he told TNT after the 5: 4 overtime victory in game 4“.
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Even before the game, the team from Alberta had a discussion about a change of goalkeeper, which was repeatedly on the subject in the course of the regular season and playoffs. Knoblauch had left the decision to leave Skinner in goal as a regular goalie in goal.
Now everything indicates that Pickard gets his chance for the remaining games of the final series. However, the veteran did not want to take a look ahead, but instead the performance of his teammates, which caused the 2-2 series compensation in the night from Thursday to Friday despite the interim 0: 3 deficit.
“For me it was all about helping the boys and not getting a goal. We wanted to play better in the second and third thirds. We play great hockey when we were lying back. And it was an incredible performance,” he said.