3 reasons why Stuart Skinner is a prime candidate to win the Vezina Trophy

Few goaltenders are better when Skinner gets hot

While it’s true Skinner looks like one of the NHL’s worst goaltenders at times, and it was something we outlined earlier in this piece, it’s also true that if he’s not one of the best, he can be the absolute best in the league during others. 

When the Oilers won 16 straight contests, Skinner ranked seventh in the league with 12 appearances. Among goaltenders who played in six or more games, his 1.41 GAA was by far the best, with only Connor Hellebuyck (1.75 GAA) of the Winnipeg Jets taking second in the category. 

Skinner recorded just one shutout during that time, but his 0.950 save percentage was once again pacing the league among goaltenders who played in six games. To make things more interesting, Skinner was second-best when you count Laurent Brossioit, who earned a 0.957 in four appearances. 

Now, let’s talk more about Skinner’s more recent hot streak, where he’s tied for third in the NHL with eight starts between February 26th and March 16th. Skinner ranks third in the league with his 1.79 GAA among goaltenders with four or more appearances, and his 0.941 save percentage is also third.