Edmonton goaltender Stuart Skinner confirmed he will start for the Oilers in a do-or-die Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final on Tuesday night against the Florida Panthers in Sunrise, Fla.
Skinner was in the starter’s net in Fort Lauderdale for the morning skate and told reporters he is getting the nod over Calvin Pickard.
Pickard yielded four goals on 18 shots in Edmonton’s 5-2 loss in Game 5 on Saturday, giving Florida a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series.
Pickard, 33, had won his first seven decisions in the playoffs before Saturday’s setback. Pickard has an .886 save percentage and a 2.85 goals-against average in the postseason.
Skinner, 26, was pulled in each of his previous two starts in this series after permitting eight goals on 40 shots. He is 7-6 with a 2.99 GAA, .891 save percentage and three shutouts in 14 starts during the playoffs.
In addition to Skinner, John Klingberg will draw back into the lineup in place of fellow defenseman Troy Stecher, and Kasperi Kapanen will replace fellow forward Viktor Arvidsson.
–Field Level Media
