Division title? Oilers don’t need no stinkin’ division title.
By Phil Gretzky
Campbell finished off the regular season strong with a pair of wins against the bottom-dwelling Ducks, allowing but a single goal against in those two games picking up his only shutout of the season in the process.
Campbell was the one player struggling at the end of the season so it’s great to see him exorcising his demons, albeit against one of the weakest teams in the league. I have to believe that this doesn’t change the Oiler’s plans for the playoffs, Skinner will still be the starter as he’s proved he’ll perform better against stronger competition, but it’s great to have Campbell have his confidence back as you just never know when the Oilers will need him in the playoffs.
In the modern NHL you need two strong options in net, especially come playoff time. I believe the Oilers have that now despite the fact that Skinner has no previous playoff experience. Rookies can come in and you never know what they will do – in fact, there was an article in the Journal about this very fact just yesterday.
I’ve given Campbell crap when he was struggling, so it’s only right to acknowledge when he’s doing well.
Still, I have to think his maddening inconsistency has given Holland and Woodcroft some fits this season. I have to wonder whether Holland explores trading Campbell to one of two rebuilding teams, to St. Louis for bad boy Jordan Binnington or to Nashville for Jusse Saros where his talents are currently being wasted. Before poo-pooing the former suggestion, remember that Evander Kane came to the Oilers with a bad boy reputation, and look at how he’s done as an Oiler.