3 Takeaways from impressive Oilers 4-1 win in Kris Knoblauch debut
By Paul Taylor
3) Stuart Skinner looking better between the pipes
The game couldn’t have started much worse for the team, when the Islanders took a 1-0 lead inside one minute. It didn’t matter that it wasn’t Stuart Skinner’s fault, or that he couldn’t do much about the goal.
However, any fears that the early score would open the floodgates for the visitors, never came to fruition. Instead, Skinner responded with arguably his best game of the season to date.
The 25-year-old made a scrappy but important stop when the game was tied at 1-1 in the first period. He also came up with a couple of key saves in the final 20 minutes, when the game was still up for grabs.
Skinner — helped by an excellent defensive effort — held the Islanders scoreless on the power play, as the visitors went 0-for-3. Overall, he finished the game with a season-high 32 saves, from 33 shots on goal.
After looking shaky early in 2023-24 — albeit not all of his own doing — the Edmonton native has been excellent in his last two starts. It is no coincidence this has coincided with the Oilers’ first winning streak of the campaign.
We won’t go as far as saying Skinner is back to the form which saw him finish runner up for the Calder Memorial Trophy. However, the signs are certainly promising.
The goaltender’s teammates were full of praise for his performance on the night, with McDavid noting he was there when they needed him. Speaking to the media postgame, Hyman added:
"“I think Stu played great. That’s first and foremost. When you have a guy playing like that and backing you up it gives you a chance, so that was awesome.”"
Quote of the day
McDavid was asked about the emotions of dealing with the change of the coaching staff over the weekend. He said:
"“It’s been a crazy couple days obviously, it’s been a crazy 48 hours. It’s unfortunately something we have gone through before and we responded the same way. It was everything that we have kind of been missing.”"
Next. Connor McDavid-bashing is ridiculous. dark
Overall, we appreciate it’s only one win; the team is still just 4-9-1 and sitting six points out of the final playoff spot in the Western Conference. However, you have to start somewhere and never has it been more a case of taking it just one game at a time, with the Oilers next playing on Wednesday night when they host the Seattle Kraken.