The stakes couldn’t be higher for the Edmonton Oilers.
After a crushing Game 5 loss, the Oilers prepare for a win-or-go-home Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final against the Florida Panthers on Tuesday.
Trailing the series 3-2 after a disappointing 5-2 loss on home ice in Game 5, the Oilers’ season now hinges on one game and one major decision: who starts in goal? Head coach Kris Knoblauch revealed that a vital decision such as this one is yet to be made.
Edmonton Oilers Weigh Goaltending Options for Game 6 Showdown
Knoblauch admitted that no decision has been made regarding the starting netminder.
“Getting everybody’s input, whether it’s [general manager] Stan Bowman’s thoughts, [assistant coach Paul] Coffey or [goalie coach] Dustin Schwartz, [assistans] Glen Gulutzan, Mark Stuart, and our players,” Knoblauch said. “Knowing who they feel is going and who they feel confident at that time. And then there’s also the workload and numerous things we can think about.” Knoblauch believes there are several variables to consider before deciding ahead of such an important game.
The uncertainty is understandable. Both goaltenders, Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard, have had their ups and downs throughout the postseason, and neither has convincingly claimed the starting role in this high-stakes series.
Kris Knoblauch remains tight-lipped on lineup changes as Oilers face critical Game 5 in Edmonton https://t.co/3mgLEQkxeh
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Pickard got the nod in Game 5. But the outing didn’t go as hoped. He gave up four goals on 18 shots and suffered his first loss of the 2025 playoffs.
Before that, Pickard had been undefeated in his postseason appearances and had helped the Oilers rally in Game 4 after replacing Skinner in the net. Still, he had not played since sustaining a lower-body injury in Game 2 of the second-round series against the Las Vegas Golden Knights.
On the other hand, Stuart Skinner’s struggles in the final have been glaring. He was pulled in Game 3 and Game 4 after giving up five and three goals, respectively. Despite some excellent performances earlier in the playoffs, Skinner’s inconsistency in the most crucial stretch of the season puts his Game 6 chances in question.
However, Knoblauch still remains optimistic about the team’s goaltending abilities, believing either option is in a position to fetch a win for the Oilers.
“It’s no different whether it’s Stu or Picks, they’ve been able to come up big when we need them at the most important times.”
The Oilers coaching staff is now tasked with weighing confidence, performance history, and recovery when selecting the starter. With their Stanley Cup hopes hanging in the balance, the decision could define the outcome of Game 6 and potentially the future direction of the franchise’s goaltending strategy.
