Calvin Pickard Steps Into Spotlight as Oilers Battle Kings
The Edmonton Oilers are hitting the reset button at the most desperate time of their season.
Veteran goalie Calvin Pickard will start Game 3 of the Oilers’ first-round playoff series against the Los Angeles Kings, head coach Kris Knoblauch confirmed on Friday. Down 2-0 in the best-of-seven battle and facing the threat of elimination, the Oilers are betting on Pickard to spark a comeback.
It’s a big move, but one that feels necessary after Stuart Skinner’s tough outings. Skinner gave up 11 goals on just 58 shots across the first two games. Though Knoblauch stood by Skinner’s efforts, the coaching staff ultimately decided a fresh start in net was needed.
“I’m approaching it like I do every time I play for this team: stay calm, do my job, and give us a chance to win,” Pickard said after Friday’s practice. “The last two games didn’t go the way we wanted, but we know there’s a lot more in this room, and we’re ready to show it tonight.”
Pickard, 33, isn’t new to high-pressure moments. Although he’s spent much of his career bouncing between roles, he brings stability and experience—two things the Oilers badly need right now.
Not All on Skinner
Knoblauch made it clear that Skinner wasn’t the root of Edmonton’s problems.
“I don’t think there’s been many bad goals. The chances we’re giving up are just too good,” Knoblauch said after Game 2. “It’s not like you’re watching and thinking, ‘He should have had that one.’ We’re making life extremely hard for our goaltenders.”
Translation: Edmonton’s defensive breakdowns have been just as responsible for the Kings’ scoring explosion. Regardless of who’s in net, the Oilers know they need to clean up their defensive play if they want any shot at flipping the series.
How the Goalies Stack Up
During the regular season, Skinner played 51 games and went 26-18-4 with a 2.81 goals-against average and a .896 save percentage. Solid numbers, but not elite—and certainly not playoff-proof.
Pickard, in 36 appearances (31 starts), went 22-10-1 with a 2.71 GAA and a .900 save percentage. Not much separates them statistically, but right now, Edmonton needs more than just “decent.”
Pickard’s calling card is calm, simple goaltending. He doesn’t make things flashy. He limits rebounds, holds his positioning, and communicates well with his defensemen. He’s not the kind of goalie who makes 10 highlight-reel saves a night—he’s the one who makes sure you don’t need them.
The Stakes Couldn’t Be Higher
There’s no sugarcoating it: if Edmonton loses Game 3, their season is basically over.
Coming back from a 3-0 deficit in the NHL playoffs is almost unheard of. And for a team that entered the season with legitimate Stanley Cup dreams, an early exit would be a brutal blow.
Superstars like Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl are right in their prime. Wasting another year would be painful. The Oilers know it. Their fans know it. The pressure tonight is through the roof.
Knoblauch’s decision to start Pickard is about more than just goaltending—it’s about shaking up the energy of the whole group.
Pickard’s Steady Hand
Pickard isn’t going to light up social media with sprawling saves or stick-poke heroics. His game is built on fundamentals: good angles, controlling rebounds, limiting second chances.
In a playoff series where Edmonton has been repeatedly burned by chaos around their crease, a calm, technical goalie might be exactly what they need.
And it’s not just what he brings on the ice. Pickard’s calm demeanor off the ice could have a settling effect on the team, too. He’s known for his positive attitude and level-headedness, two qualities that can make a huge difference when the pressure mounts.
Source: Oilers to start goalie Calvin Pickard for Game 3 vs. Kings
Inside the Oilers Locker Room
From what’s coming out of the Oilers camp, the team is rallying around Pickard.
Veteran players reportedly spoke up after Friday’s practice, emphasizing that everyone needs to tighten up—not just the goaltenders. Leaders like McDavid and Draisaitl made it clear: if the Oilers are going to turn this thing around, it has to be a full team effort.
“We believe in each other,” one Oilers veteran said. “We’re not hanging our heads. We’re embracing this challenge.”
Kings Not Letting Up
Meanwhile, the Kings aren’t going to take their foot off the gas just because Edmonton made a goalie change.
Los Angeles has been opportunistic, fast, and clinical so far in the series. Their power play has clicked at just the right moments, and they’ve made the Oilers pay for every mistake.
If the Oilers expect to claw back, they’re going to have to earn it.
One Game at a Time
For the Oilers, the mission is simple: win tonight, and the series feels very different. Lose, and the summer starts early.
By turning to Calvin Pickard, Edmonton is hoping to reset the tone, spark their defense into better form, and give their scorers the confidence to play without looking over their shoulders.
No one said it would be easy. But playoff hockey rarely is.
Tonight, the puck drops with everything on the line—and Calvin Pickard will be right in the thick of it.
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