Insider gets brutally honest about Calvin Pickard's performance

Although GM Stan Bowman recently admitted that he doesn't feel goaltending is an issue for the organization, you would be remiss not to feel a little nervous about the quality of the Oilers goaltending.

While Stuart Skinner delivered a sub-par performance during yesterday's game against the Philadelphia Flyers, all eyes were on Calvin Pickard to pick up the slack today against the Washington Capitals. So how did the backup goaltender do?

Rough first period, not the first for an Oilers goalie recently. He started iffy with a bad bobble that almost found its way into the Edmonton net. Fine stop on Lars Eller off of Bouchard's early turnover, then another one on Chychrun's break-in backhander. He had little chance on the first Caps goal as the puck took a wonky bounce in front of the net. He was not set on the second Caps shot, a screened outside shot and goal, which is partly on Pickard.

He was beat on two Californians in the first - outside shots that find their way into the net, named in honour of the Californian connection on San Jose in the 2010s, Brent Burns shooting outside with Joe Pavelski tipping them in. Those kinds of goals against tend to be backbreakers. Stoned McMichael on a break-in in the second. But he got beat a moment later on a high slot shot by Alex Ovechkin. Failed to stop Ovi's one-timer, but who does? Little chance on the fifth goal against where the Caps went full Harlem Globetrotters. But he both turned over the puck and coughed up a slot rebound on the sixth Washington goal.

Now, the Edmonton Oilers have another tough test ahead of them as they head to Florida to take on Kikita Kucherov and the Tampa Bay Lightning.

If the Edmonton Oilers goaltending tandem fails to secure a win, I fear GM Stan Bowman's hand will be forced into a trade come NHL deadline.