This in from Oilers insiders Bob Stauffer of Oilers Now and TSN’s Ryan Rishaug, firm statements that it’s now or never for Edmonton Oilers goalie Stuart Skinner, that’s got to soon demonstrate he’s ready to step up as Edmonton’s No. 1 goalie or there will be change.
Skinner was solid for almost all of Edmonton’s first game against Calgary, save for one terrible moment where he failed to clear a puck and Calgary forward Blake Coleman popped it in the net.
They’re going to let it ride here with Skinner for a little bit. There’s a new voice in his ear working with him at the goaltending coach position. Looks like he’s made some changes in the off season.”
“They’ve committed to seeing what they have for a chunk of time here with Stuart Skinner,” Rishaug said on Oilers Now. “Not a great start. What I would say to you Oiler fan that is worried, don’t worry. If Stuart Skinner is not capable of handling this, he won’t be here. He will not be in net for game one of the playoffs. If he does not clearly show to the team this year that he’s going to do a better job of handling that than he has in the past.
“So I’m not going to panic after one game, but I think we all know that Skinner is on the clock here. And so don’t panic if you’re an Oiler fan. Stan Bowman is able to get things done. And when he decides that really needs to be done now, it’ll probably get done.
“Absolutely,” Stauffer agreed. “No question. I agree with you. He’s on the clock.”
Stauffer suggested that goalie Calvin Pickard might well get the start tonight against Vancouver.
Bowman has already traded for veteran goalie Connor Ingram, who has been a solid goalie for most his professional career. Ingram missed training camp but is now with Bakersfield of the AHL. Stauffer asked Bako hockey boss Keith Gretzky about Ingram.
“He’s coming along fine,” Gretzky said. “We’re hoping that in the next couple of weeks, you know, he’s going to be playing regularly and up to form and not having a training camp has put him back a bit, but he’s working hard to get there. And hopefully next weekend or the weekend after that, he’s ready to, you know, get into some game action.”