Stuart Skinner is making the most of his fresh start in Pittsburgh.

The 6-foot-4 netminder was acquired in a trade with the Edmonton Oilers on Dec. 12, along with defenceman Brett Kulak and a draft pick, in exchange for goaltender Tristan Jarry and Sam Poulin.

Skinner, 27, struggled the past two seasons in the regular season with Edmonton, despite backstopping the team to back-to-back Stanley Cup Finals.

He registered a 26-18-4 record last season with an .896 save percentage and a 2.81 goals-against average, ceding some of his playing time to backup Calvin Pickard during the regular season.

Skinner was able to retake his crease on a permanent basis during the playoffs, going 7-7 with an .889 save percentage and 2.99 GAA.

Skinner’s regular-season struggles continued early this season, going 11-8-4 with an .891 save percentage and 2.83 GAA, leading to the Oilers deciding to make a change.

“I think it’s no so much of a comment on Skinner. It’s just really time for something different here,” Oilers general manager Stan Bowman told NHL.com after the trade. “But I think we wanted to make sure we felt confident in the person we were bringing in.”

After struggling in his first three starts as a Penguin, Skinner has found his groove, winning six of his past seven games and holding a .933 save percentage and 1.60 GAA during that span.

The Penguins are tied for second in the Metropolitan Division with a 24-14-11 record after missing the playoffs the past three seasons. They are seven points back of the Carolina Hurricanes for top spot and are tied with the New York Islanders.

“It’s really hard to win games in the NHL and you need a full team effort for 60 minutes and that’s what these guys are giving every night,” Skinner told NHL.com after their 4-1 win over the Calgary Flames on Wednesday. “Whenever we get a chance to play Calgary, it’s always a good battle, especially [because] they took a couple points in our building not too long ago, so it’s nice to get these two points off them here.”

With his team playing on back-to-back days, Skinner won’t get the chance to put his new-found confidence on display in his old stomping grounds in Edmonton on Thursday.

Arturs Silovs will get the start against the Oilers but head coach Dan Muse says it’s a compliment to Skinner’s play rather than a ploy to avoid a media circus.

“I think both guys have been playing really well,” Muse told reporters on Wednesday. “I think with Stu, just based on his play, and his record coming off the break, and we decided going into the front end of the back-to-back we he earned the right.”

Oilers thriving with new goalie tandem

Meanwhile in Edmonton, the tandem of Tristan Jarry and Connor Ingram have been thriving since the trade.

Jarry, 30, won his first three starts with the Oilers before sustaining a lower-body injury that sidelined him for 12 games.

He has a 4-1-1 record with the Oilers with a .904 save percentage and 2.49 GAA.

Ingram was recalled from the AHL’s Bakersfield Condors after Jarry’s injury and has impressed during his NHL stay.

The 6-foot-1 netminder has a 5-3-1 record since being called up with a 2.22 GAA and .917 save percentage.

Edmonton sits second in the Pacific Division with a 25-18-8 record, two points behind the Vegas Golden Knights and three points ahead of the Anaheim Ducks.

“Both guys have come in a played really well, give us a chance to win every night,” Oilers captain Connor McDavid told reporters on Wednesday. “That part of it is exciting, two good goalies who can play. But the team has been playing better, a little more soundly I would say so that would help.”

Ingram’s play has put head coach Kris Knoblauch in a position where he doesn’t have to rush Jarry, who is still getting used to a new team and new system.

Knoblauch also has Pickard as an option. Pickard is currently acting as the team’s third goaltender and has a 5-6-2 record with an.871 save percentage and 3.68 GAA.

“I think every good team needs multiple goalies and having us all playing well … it’s been a great [rotation] with the three of us,” Jarry said on Wednesday. “Obviously my being hurt, they’ve played the majority of the games and done very well. When you have three goalies … capable to go in there and win games I think it does nothing but help the team.”