The Edmonton Oilers are now one loss away from yet another heartbreak. After falling 5–2 to the Florida Panthers in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final, the goalie debate in Edmonton is heating up, and one legendary voice has made his stance clear.
Hall of Famer Weighs In on Stuart Skinner-Calvin Pickard Pick Ahead of Game 6
Hall of Fame goalie and NHL on TNT analyst Henrik Lundqvist didn’t hesitate when asked who should start in Game 6.
“I’m going back to Skinner. He’s the number-one guy,” Lundqvist said after the game.
The season-defining question… Skinner or Pickard in Game 6? 👀 pic.twitter.com/tf9V4VpsfE
— NHLonTNT (@NHL_On_TNT) June 15, 2025
“Pickard did an amazing job in Game 4…Tonight wasn’t good, but Stu has been the starter all year, and I think he earned this opportunity to make a difference in Game 6,” Lundqvist said about Pickard.
The comment came after Calvin Pickard, who got the nod over Skinner in Game 5, gave up four goals on 27 shots. It wasn’t all on him as Edmonton came out flat again, but the performance opened the door for a change.
Another Slow Start Buries Edmonton
The Panthers wasted no time jumping ahead, scoring twice in the first 11 minutes of the opening period on goals by Brad Marchand and Sam Bennett. It’s been a persistent issue for Edmonton as Florida now leads 10–4 in first-period goals through five games.
Head coach Kris Knoblauch admitted postgame that execution was lacking.
“It’s one thing if there’s a defender in the way or a tough pass to make,” Knoblauch said. “But when it’s a simple tape-to-tape and we’re still missing… that’s on us.”
“Winning our last two games is something that we’re confident we can do.”
Kris Knoblauch on the Oilers going down 3-2 in the #StanleyCup Final. pic.twitter.com/b0mFxjeNEK
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) June 15, 2025
Oilers forward Ryan Nugent-Hopkins pointed to the team’s energy but acknowledged it wasn’t enough.
“There were times we played with urgency,” he said. “But they got the first one, then the second. We’re a team that can come back, but it’s not always going to happen.”
Panthers’ Depth Shines Again
Florida’s forward group wasted no time setting the tone. Brad Marchand struck twice, Sam Bennett extended his playoff-leading tally to 15 goals, and Eetu Luostarinen chipped in with a goal and an assist.
Sergei Bobrovsky wasn’t overly taxed early on but was sharp when needed, stopping 19 of 21 shots, especially those crucial ones to keep Florida ahead.
THE FLORIDA PANTHERS ARE ONE WIN AWAY FROM BEING REPEAT CUP CHAMPIONS 👀pic.twitter.com/2vmDpIGk38
— NHLonTNT (@NHL_On_TNT) June 15, 2025
Connor McDavid and Corey Perry scored for the Oilers, including a second-period power-play goal from McDavid that briefly closed the gap. Edmonton’s power play went 1-for-3, and they managed nine high-danger chances at five-on-five, per Natural Stat Trick. But the late push wasn’t enough.
Pickard was pulled for an extra attacker in the final minutes, and Florida sealed it with an empty-netter. Knoblauch hasn’t named a Game 6 starter yet, but all signs point back to Skinner.
The Oilers now trail the series 3–2. Game 6 returns to Florida on Tuesday, where the Panthers will have a chance to lift the Stanley Cup on home ice.
