Kris Knoblauch reveals why he pulled Stuart Skinner
Photo credit: Daily Hive
The Edmonton Oilers are coming off an extremely disappointing 5-4 loss against the Colorado Avalanche last night, but goaltender Stuart Skinner is making headlines today after being plucked from the net after a shaky first period.
First off, I just want to emphasize that I do like Stuart Skinner as a goaltender. He's shown a ton of character all season by fighting through adversity and bouncing back after tough performances.
Despite Skinner showing flashes of brilliance throughout the season, his alarming trend of letting in easy goals early in games is starting to have a negative impact on the team.
After allowing 3 goals on just 12 shots, Edmonton Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch made the executive decision to pull Skinner after the 1st period, turning to Clavin Pickard to take over in net.
While the Oilers rallied to tie the game 4-4, the boys took their foot off the gas pedal, and the Colorado Avalanche sealed the deal in the dying minutes of the 3rd period.
Kris Knoblauch gives his take on Stuart Skinner's performance
After the game, Edmonton Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch made himself available for his usual interviews, sharing his persepctive on Skinner's performance.
According to Liam McCormick of Oilers Daily, directly at the beginning of the press conference when asked about what went wrong last night, Knoblauch pointed to Stuart Skinner's goals against as the biggest problem.
"The goals that we gave up early in the game. We were able to respond, but I don't think [Skinner] had much opportunity on the third one, made a nice save at the end of the period, but the first two I felt he could've had.
Those are - I thought he could have had those, I didn't think he found those. I think we had every opportunity to win that game after that penalty kill. We had some great chances going the other way & we didn't capitalize on those."
- Coach Knoblauch
Those are - I thought he could have had those, I didn't think he found those. I think we had every opportunity to win that game after that penalty kill. We had some great chances going the other way & we didn't capitalize on those."
- Coach Knoblauch
Knoblauch nearly stopped himself from saying it, but the first two goals were simple shots from the perimeter that need to be saves. Both goals just seemed to get by Skinner.
With the trade deadline looming, analysts are starting to think that GM Stan Bowman might change his plans by shopping for an alternate solution between the pipes.
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