<p>It&#8217;s safe to say Game 1 hasn&#8217;t made<a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/social-media-reacts-to-rollercoaster-game-1-oilers-kings"> fans in Edmonton</a> more comfortable about the team&#8217;s goaltending situation. The Oilers fell by a score of <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/oilers-smothered-offensively-the-comeback-was-too-little-too-late-and-edmontons-goaltending-controversy">6-5 to the Los Angeles Kings</a>, with Stuart Skinner allowing six goals on 30 shots for a .800 save percentage.</p>
<p></p>
<p>The goal that&#8217;s caught the most flak was the Kings&#8217; game-winner, which came almost immediately after Edmonton tied the game in the third period. Los Angeles got out to a 4-0 lead, but the Oilers managed to battle back after <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/sluggish-start-cost-oilers-against-kings-playoffs">waking up</a> late in the second frame and rallying in the third. With under one minute left to play and the game appearing to be headed to overtime, Skinner was fooled by a knuckleball shot from just inside the blueline.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">A knuckleball from Philip Danault finds it&#39;s way in&#8230;</p>
<p>📷: Sportsnet <a href="https://t.co/7qgVzD8Q5T">pic.twitter.com/7qgVzD8Q5T</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Oilersnation.com, Oily Since ‘07 (@OilersNation) <a href="https://twitter.com/OilersNation/status/1914546162218229899?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 22, 2025</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>While the team came nowhere close to giving a full 60-minute effort in front of Skinner in Game 1 on Monday, it was a difficult showing for the Edmonton native. He didn&#8217;t look like the cool and composed Skinner we&#8217;ve seen during runs in the past, instead looking slow and shaky.</p>
<p>Skinner went 26-18-4 for the Oilers over 51 appearances this season with a .896 save percentage. It was a decline from the .905 save percentage he had in 2023-24 and is a ways away from the .913 save percentage he had in 2022-23 when he finished second in Calder Trophy voting.</p>
<p>The other option for the Oilers is backup Calvin Pickard, who went 22-10-1 with a .900 save percentage in 36 appearances during the regular season. The best stretch of Pickard&#8217;s season came in late March and early April when Skinner was out with a concussion, as the team won five of seven starts.</p>
<p>Will the Oilers go with Skinner again in Game 2? Or will they make the switch and go to Pickard? <a href="https://x.com/SportsnetSpec/status/1914765923111845914">According to Sportsnet&#8217;s Mark Spector</a>, head coach Kris Knoblauch said the coaching staff will decide who gets the start on Wednesday.</p>
<hr />
<h2><a href="http://LitcoLaw.com">Presented by Litco Law</a></h2>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-173686" src="http://publish.oilersnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2099/02/LitcoLaw_Logo_Original-1-1024x161.png" alt="" width="1024" height="161" srcset="https://publish.oilersnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2099/02/LitcoLaw_Logo_Original-1-1024x161.png 1024w, https://publish.oilersnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2099/02/LitcoLaw_Logo_Original-1-300x47.png 300w, https://publish.oilersnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2099/02/LitcoLaw_Logo_Original-1-768x121.png 768w, https://publish.oilersnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2099/02/LitcoLaw_Logo_Original-1-1536x242.png 1536w, https://publish.oilersnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2099/02/LitcoLaw_Logo_Original-1.png 1650w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></p>
<p dir="ltr">Litco Law has been serving Edmontonians and all of Alberta for over 50 years. A family-owned and operated company, their purpose is to balance the power for people who find themselves having to navigate the complex legal system. They can help with personal injury claims (like car accidents), employment matters (such as wrongful dismissal or severance package reviews), or if you’ve been denied long-term disability benefits. Litco Law is known for being experienced, responsive, and genuinely caring. You might not believe Lawyers You’ll Love™ exist—but they do. To learn more or book a free consultation, visit LitcoLaw.com.</p>

Edmonton Oilers Stuart Skinner Calvin Pickard

It's safe to say Game 1 hasn't made<a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/social-media-reacts-to-rollercoaster-game-1-oilers-kings"> fans in Edmonton</a> more comfortable about the team's goaltending situation. The Oilers fell by a score of <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/oilers-smothered-offensively-the-comeback-was-too-little-too-late-and-edmontons-goaltending-controversy">6-5 to the Los Angeles Kings</a>, with Stuart Skinner allowing six goals on 30 shots for a .800 save percentage.



The goal that's caught the most flak was the Kings' game-winner, which came almost immediately after Edmonton tied the game in the third period. Los Angeles got out to a 4-0 lead, but the Oilers managed to battle back after <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/sluggish-start-cost-oilers-against-kings-playoffs">waking up</a> late in the second frame and rallying in the third. With under one minute left to play and the game appearing to be headed to overtime, Skinner was fooled by a knuckleball shot from just inside the blueline.

https://twitter.com/OilersNation/status/1914546162218229899

While the team came nowhere close to giving a full 60-minute effort in front of Skinner in Game 1 on Monday, it was a difficult showing for the Edmonton native. He didn't look like the cool and composed Skinner we've seen during runs in the past, instead looking slow and shaky.

Skinner went 26-18-4 for the Oilers over 51 appearances this season with a .896 save percentage. It was a decline from the .905 save percentage he had in 2023-24 and is a ways away from the .913 save percentage he had in 2022-23 when he finished second in Calder Trophy voting.

The other option for the Oilers is backup Calvin Pickard, who went 22-10-1 with a .900 save percentage in 36 appearances during the regular season. The best stretch of Pickard's season came in late March and early April when Skinner was out with a concussion, as the team won five of seven starts.

Will the Oilers go with Skinner again in Game 2? Or will they make the switch and go to Pickard? <a href="https://x.com/SportsnetSpec/status/1914765923111845914">According to Sportsnet's Mark Spector</a>, head coach Kris Knoblauch said the coaching staff will decide who gets the start on Wednesday.

<hr />

<h2><a href="http://LitcoLaw.com">Presented by Litco Law</a></h2>
<img class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-173686" src="http://publish.oilersnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2099/02/LitcoLaw_Logo_Original-1-1024x161.png" alt="" width="1024" height="161" />
<p dir="ltr">Litco Law has been serving Edmontonians and all of Alberta for over 50 years. A family-owned and operated company, their purpose is to balance the power for people who find themselves having to navigate the complex legal system. They can help with personal injury claims (like car accidents), employment matters (such as wrongful dismissal or severance package reviews), or if you’ve been denied long-term disability benefits. Litco Law is known for being experienced, responsive, and genuinely caring. You might not believe Lawyers You’ll Love™ exist—but they do. To learn more or book a free consultation, visit LitcoLaw.com.</p>

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