Oilers goaltender Calvin Pickard exits vs. Kraken

Edmonton Oilers netminder Calvin Pickard had his night cut unexpectedly short on Saturday.

The 32-year-old goaltender was forced to leave Saturday’s pre-season game against the Seattle Kraken in the first period after he was run into by teammate Noah Philip and crashed hard to the ice.

Pickard was replaced in net by Olivier Rodrigue. He did not return to the Oilers’ bench for the second period.

The veteran netminder, who is expected to be the Oilers’ primary backup this season, signed a two-year, $2 million extension with Edmonton in June.

Pickard took over the backup job from Jack Campbell last season going a 12-7-1 record in 23 games played with a 2.45 goals against average and a .909 save percentage.

He also started two games in the Stanley Cup Playoffs with the team looking to give Stuart Skinner a rest, going 1-1 with a 2.21 goals-against average and a .915 save percentage.

Edmonton signed Pickard to a two-year deal in 2022 and he spent his first year in the AHL with the Bakersfield Condors, going 23-12-2 with a 2.70 goals-against average and a .912 save percentage.