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Falling Short: Identifying the Oilers Responsible for the Disappointing Second Round Exit

By Almar Reyes

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MAY 12: Jack Eichel #9 of the Vegas Golden Knights goes after a loose puck before scoring a first-period goal against Nick Bjugstad #72 and Stuart Skinner #74 of the Edmonton Oilers in Game Five of the Second Round of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs at T-Mobile Arena on May 12, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Golden Knights defeated the Oilers 4-3. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MAY 12: Jack Eichel #9 of the Vegas Golden Knights goes after a loose puck before scoring a first-period goal against Nick Bjugstad #72 and Stuart Skinner #74 of the Edmonton Oilers in Game Five of the Second Round of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs at T-Mobile Arena on May 12, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Golden Knights defeated the Oilers 4-3. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /
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Edmonton Oilers Goalie Stuart Skinner
Dec 27, 2022; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; Edmonton Oilers goaltender Stuart Skinner (74) skates during the warmup period against the Calgary Flames at Scotiabank Saddledome. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports /

G Stuart Skinner

The performance of the rookie netminder in the playoffs played a significant role in the Edmonton Oilers’ inability to make a deep postseason run. While it’s important to acknowledge the team’s overall defensive shortcomings, the numbers posted by the rookie goaltender fell short of what was necessary to secure victories in crucial playoff matchups.

With a goals-against average of 3.68 and a save percentage of .883, the rookie netminder struggled to provide the necessary stability between the pipes during the postseason. These statistics indicate difficulty in consistently making timely saves and preventing opposing teams from capitalizing on scoring opportunities. In the pressure-cooker environment of the playoffs, these numbers were not sufficient to give the Oilers the chance to win critical games.

It is crucial to note that goaltending is a team effort, and the overall defensive performance in front of the netminder must be taken into consideration. However, to make a deep playoff run, goaltenders often need to make game-changing saves that can turn the tide in favour of their team. While it would be unfair to place all the blame on the rookie netminder, his inability to consistently come up with clutch saves proved to be a significant factor in the Oilers’ disappointing playoff campaign.

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