Kris Knoblauch has big words for Jeff Skinner
Photo credit: NHL
The Edmonton Oilers are coming off a nail biting 4-3 overtime win against the Chicago Blackhawks last night, and forward Jeff Skinner appears to be hitting his stride at precisely the right time.
During yesterday's match up, the Edmonton Oilers got some much needed depth scoring up and down the lineup. Viktor Arvidsson sniped home an impressive wrist shot to open the scoring, but Jeff Skinner emerged as yesterday's hero, notching 2 points to help the Oilers avoid a momentum killing loss.
According to the Edmonton Journal, He hadn't logged more than 14 minutes in a game since Dec. 3 and was down to eight minutes and change at his lowest. But he's trending up. Fourth line against Toronto, third line against St. Louis and second line against Chicago. He has a three goals and an assist in his last five games.
The goals are huge, that's what they signed him for, but he's also being noticed for his effort and for his willingness to dig in defensively. He's broken up some opposition plays, had some backchecking highlights and seems to be winning his way back into the plans.
Jeff Skinner finally out of Kris Knoblauch's dog-house
Following yesterday's victory, Edmonton Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch made himself available for his usual interviews, highlighting Skinner's impressive play as of late.
«Jeff's been playing really well,» said head coach Kris Knoblauch. «His details have been good, he's been checking hard, he's been getting in on the forecheck and been in the right position defensively. He's played really well for the last couple of weeks.»
«It's just being in the right place to break up that play to get the puck,» said Knoblauch. «If he's not in the right place defensively they're on a rush against and we have to defend, but he's able to break that play up and it leads to a scoring chance.»
«It's just being in the right place to break up that play to get the puck,» said Knoblauch. «If he's not in the right place defensively they're on a rush against and we have to defend, but he's able to break that play up and it leads to a scoring chance.»
Skinner hadn't started a game on the second line since Nov. 21 against Minnesota and he scored in that one, too. But that Skinner and this Skinner are two different players. This guy, if he keeps playing this way, can help.
«He's an easy guy to play with,» Skinner said of Draisaitl. «He wins a lot of battles, makes a lot of great plays.»
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