Published May 13, 2024<\/span> \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 Last updated 59\u00a0minutes ago<\/span> \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 3 minute read<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n You can save this article by registering for free here. Or sign-in if you have an account.<\/p>\n The Edmonton Oilers aren\u2019t going to win a Stanley Cup with the kind of goaltending they\u2019re getting.<\/p>\n They\u2019re not going to win a Stanley Cup playing Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl almost 30 minutes a night.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n And they\u2019re not going to win a Stanley Cup with a bottom six that\u2019s gone AWOL in the playoffs again.<\/p>\n Stanley Cup?<\/p>\n They won\u2019t even beat Vancouver.<\/p>\n With Edmonton trailing its Western Conference semifinal series (also known as the Canadian Championship) 2-1 to the Canucks after Sunday\u2019s 4-3 defeat, things are getting all kinds of real here in Lottery City.<\/p>\n Advertisement 2<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY<\/p>\n Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.<\/p>\n SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES<\/p>\n Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.<\/p>\n REGISTER \/ SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES<\/p>\n Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.<\/p>\n or<\/span><\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n The Oilers might lose this thing. To a third-string goaltender.<\/p>\n Try chewing on that all summer.<\/p>\n The same worm-eaten playoff problems that have plagued this team throughout the entire Connor McDavid era are resurfacing again at just the wrong time.<\/p>\n Goaltending: Stuart Skinner is rocking a .793 save percentage for the series and .877 for the playoffs.<\/p>\n Depth: 18 of Edmonton\u2019s last 20 goals have come from their top six (OK, top three) or from defencemen. The bottom six remains a post-season rumour.<\/p>\n Over-reliance: Connor McDavid played 28:12 in Game 2 and 29:42 in Game 3. Leon Draisaitl played 27:05 and 29:04. Meanwhile, five Oilers forwards played fewer than 10 minutes on Sunday.<\/p>\n These are all serious problems but the biggest leak in the boat right now is goaltending.<\/p>\n Skinner is a solid guy who\u2019s always been honest about his game and he\u2019s been brilliant at pulling out of rough patchers during the regular season, but facts are facts: He\u2019s been pulled five times in 20 career playoff games and he\u2019s given up a goal on every fifth shot in the series with Vancouver.<\/p>\n Even a protective head coach can\u2019t pretend this hasn\u2019t become a serious issue.<\/p>\n Headline News<\/p>\n Thanks for signing up!<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Advertisement 3<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n \u201cYes, we need more saves,\u201d said Kris Knoblauch.<\/p>\n For as strong as he is in the regular season, Skinner\u2019s playoff resume is not good. And, to compound matters, the guy across the ice is writing a Cinderella story.<\/p>\n Arturs Silovs is giving Vancouver the kind of stuff the Oilers would kill for just a hint of. He\u2019s not just keeping his head above water, he\u2019s stealing games from one of the most high-powered attacks the league has ever seen.<\/p>\n Edmonton outshot Vancouver 60-20 over the last four periods and they lost one game and needed a lucky break in overtime to win the other.<\/p>\n Recommended from Editorial<\/p>\n “Stuart Skinner is a problem for the Oilers”: Social media reacts to Edmonton goalie getting pulled<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n Edmonton Oilers on the ropes after Canucks win goaltending battle<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n Some of the numbers are ridiculous \u2014 15-2 in the third period of Game 2, then 14-4 and 22-3 in the second and third periods Sunday night.<\/p>\n That\u2019s not easy on a team\u2019s psyche. It has to be deflating when you\u2019re working hard for a ton of great looks and their goalie isn\u2019t giving you a sniff, but as soon as the other team gets a half decent chance it\u2019s in the back of your net.<\/p>\n Advertisement 4<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n On the bright side, it also means that this thing could be on the verge of tipping Edmonton\u2019s way for good. It\u2019s hard to imagine that Vancouver can keep winning when they\u2019re being outshot three-to-one.<\/p>\n Eventually, something has to give, whether it\u2019s Silovs or the Canucks, or some of the four goal posts Edmonton hit Sunday taking a different bounce next time. You can\u2019t put that much pressure on something before it snaps.<\/p>\n But the Oilers need a save. Every mistake they make can\u2019t be coming back to haunt them.<\/p>\n \u201cIt would be ridiculous to think that you\u2019re going to play 60 minutes of hockey without turning the puck over,\u201d said Knoblauch.<\/p>\n So who do you start Tuesday night, knowing that this might be the most important 60 minutes the Oilers have played in nearly 20 years?<\/p>\n Not since Game 7 of the 2006 Stanley Cup Final has a game meant so much to the organization. Fall behind 3-1 in the series and 7-1 on the season to Vancouver and not only are the Oilers done, but the whole Stanley Cup window might begin closing.<\/p>\n There are no reassuring choices for Knoblauch and his staff. Not when the wrong answer means you\u2019re down 3-1 in the series.<\/p>\n Skinner\u2019s post season numbers speak for themselves and Pickard has never started an NHL playoff game.<\/p>\n Not an easy call.<\/p>\n And this is not an easy situation. The Canucks can taste blood in the water and will be coming hard at whoever starts for Edmonton in Game 4.<\/p>\n E-mail:\u00a0rtychkowski@postmedia.com<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Share this article in your social network<\/p>\n![\"Oilers](\"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/edmontonjournal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/dsc_6588.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=288&h=216&sig=mzxPdAesnauptiUz922i-Q\" "\\"\\"")
Dylan Holloway (55) of the Edmonton Oilers, checks Quinn Hughes (43) of the Vancouver Canucks at Rogers Place in Edmonton on May 12, 2024.<\/span> Photo by Shaughn Butts<\/span> \/Postmedia<\/span><\/p>\nArticle content<\/h2>\n
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