Has Oilers’ Stuart Skinner turned his game around, or is the team just playing well in front of him?
Edmonton Oilers goaltender Stuart Skinner has been one of the stories of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
After giving way to Calvin Pickard for six straight wins, all four against the Los Angeles Kings and the first two in the second round against the Vegas Golden Knights, Skinner has been excellent since taking back the crease, holding opponents to no goals or a single tally in five of his last eight starts.
On Tuesday’s episode of Daily Faceoff LIVE, Tyler Yaremchuk and Insider and President of Hockey Content Frank Seravalli were joined by former NHL goaltender Carter Hutton to discuss the whether Skinner is playing at a much higher level or if Edmonton’s all-around game in front of him has made it much easier on him.
Tyler Yaremchuk: For the second straight year, it’s Stuart Skinner coming into this series after playing really well in the Western Conference Final. How much of Skinner’s play is him turning his game around? How much is the Oilers just playing really well in front of him?
Carter Hutton: I think a little bit of both. You’re always going to be a product of your team. At this point in the year, you’re not going to make a Stanley Cup Final without a team playing well in front of you. With that being said, I think he’s got more to draw upon this year. You look back on histories past and being in the playoffs, and we know the Jekyll and Hyde we’ve seen of Stuart Skinner, but for me it’s the experience base. Now he has something to fall back on. He’s been that guy that’s had a big chunk of time off, and rolling into the Finals it’s very similar to sitting on the bench watching Calvin Pickard go 6-0, and then he has to jump back in there, and he played very well in round two and in the Western Conference Final… I think he’s a different goalie than he was in years past.
Frank Seravalli: There’s no doubt that Stuart Skinner has been excellent the last round and a half or so. That said, now knowing that Cal Pickard is healthy, if Skinner falters at all, how short would your leash be if you’re Kris Knoblauch, knowing that you can’t get down in a hole again in this series?
Carter Hutton: I definitely think there is a leash, Frank, but the fact of the matter is if the Edmonton Oilers are going to win the Stanley Cup, I really believe it’s going to have to be on Stuart Skinner’s shoulders.
You can watch the full segment and the rest of the episode here…