The Stanley Cup Final has not been kind to Stuart Skinner.
Skinner was pulled by the Edmonton Oilers and replaced by Calvin Pickard following a bad first period in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, Fla., on Thursday night. Skinner had allowed three goals on 17 shots in the first period, which led Edmonton to swap him for Pickard. Pickard played the second period and stopped all 10 shots he faced, while the Oilers rallied for three goals to tie the game.
Skinner was also pulled after allowing five goals on 23 shots in a 6-1 loss during Game 3 against the Panthers. That came during the third period, and Pickard stopped seven of the eight shots he faced in that game.
Skinner, 26, was 26-18 in 51 games during the regular season. He had an .896 save percentage with a 2.81 goals-against average.
Pickard has had success during this postseason. He entered play on Thursday 6-0 with a 2.87 goals-against average and .888 save percentage.
Maybe some pregame shenanigans from Vitek Vanecek messed with Skinner’s mojo.
