Oilers leaning toward starting Stuart Skinner in Game 6

According to a report from Daily Faceoff insider Frank Seravalli, the Edmonton Oilers are leaning towards making a couple of line changes ahead of a crucial Game 6 vs. Vancouver.

Goaltender Stuart Skinner is expected to draw in for Calvin Pickard after sitting out the past two games. Pickard has put together a 1-1-0 record and .915 save percentage through his first two Stanley Cup Playoff starts this series.

Pickard backstopped the Oilers to a 3-2 win in Game 4 but came up short with a loss in Game 5 as J.T. Miller scored with just 35 seconds left in the third period.

We’ll see what develops this morning, but the belief is these are the changes for #Oilers:

Stuart Skinner starts Game 6.

Adam Henrique in for Corey Perry.

Not written in sharpie, some things to sort out this morning.

— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) May 18, 2024

Skinner has not seen action since Game 3 after Pickard replaced Skinner for the third period when he allowed four goals on 15 shots.

Skinner has a .793 save percentage this series and is statistically the worst playoff performer of any netminder in the salary cap era with at least 15 games played. Skinner had a good regular season, backstopping the Oilers with a 36-16-5 record, but through 14 career playoff starts, the 25-year-old is 6-7 with a .879 save percentage and 3.81 goals-against average.

With Oilers’ coach Kris Knoblauch looking to force a Game 7, all cards are on the table. Veteran forward Adam Henrique is expected to also draw into the lineup and replace veteran Corey Perry. Through 10 games in the playoffs, Perry has yet to register a point, failing to build upon a decent run during the regular season. Henrique has one goal and one assist in six games and has only suited up for one game this series.