The Edmonton Oilers are on the ropes after a 5-2 loss to the Florida Panthers in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final, and questions are already swirling about who starts in net for Game 6. Calvin Pickard got the nod Saturday night, but things didn’t go Edmonton’s way.
Oilers Coach Defends Calvin Pickard After Game 5 Loss
Head coach Kris Knoblauch didn’t pin the defeat on his goalie. Speaking postgame, he offered a blunt but fair assessment of Pickard’s performance.
“From what I saw, I think Picks didn’t have much chance on those goals – breakaways, shots through screens, slot shots,” Knoblauch said. “There’s nothing saying that it was a poor performance.”
Pickard, making his first start since the second round, gave up four goals on 18 shots. It was a tough outing, especially after his solid effort in Game 4 helped even the series. Saturday’s performance dropped his save percentage to .778 for the night.
Knoblauch wasn’t ready to make any decisions yet. When asked if Pickard would start again in Game 6, he replied, “I’m not going to make that decision right now after a tough loss like tonight.”
The Panthers struck early and never really looked back. Brad Marchand opened the scoring in the first period, followed by a goal from Sam Bennett to make it 2-0. Marchand added another in the third, and although Connor McDavid and Corey Perry managed to find the net for the Oilers, it wasn’t enough. Florida capped things off with Bennett’s second and an empty-netter from Eetu Luostarinen.
Now down 3-2 in the series, Edmonton heads back to Florida needing two straight wins to take the Cup. Game 6 is set for Tuesday night in Sunrise.
Pickard’s Starting Role in Doubt Ahead of Crucial Game 6
Calvin Pickard’s return to the crease was meant to give the Oilers a boost. Heading into Game 5, he carried a perfect 7-0 playoff record. That momentum, however, didn’t carry over.
Florida’s quick, high-danger scoring chances tested Edmonton’s defense from the start. Pickard was left to deal with breakaways and screened shots, not the kind of looks any goalie wants. The result? A rough night and a loss that put Edmonton’s season on the line.
Still, Knoblauch wasn’t critical of his netminder. His comments made it clear that the breakdowns went beyond Pickard. “He didn’t have much of a chance,” the coach reiterated.
It’s now a tough call for the Oilers’ coaching staff. Do they trust Pickard to bounce back? Or do they go back to Stuart Skinner, who started the first four games of the series but had his own inconsistencies?
Pickard has shown resilience throughout the playoffs. He’s stayed composed, filled in when needed, and helped the team get out of tough spots. That mental toughness could still be a factor heading into Game 6.
Meanwhile, the Panthers are one win away from repeating as champions. They’ve thrived on their pace and forechecking, and that same style gave Pickard trouble in Game 5.
With the puck set to drop at 8 p.m. ET on Tuesday, the Oilers are facing a must-win. Whether Calvin Pickard gets the crease again is still uncertain, but whatever the decision, Edmonton’s season now rests on their goaltending and ability to regroup under pressure.
