Oilers HC Undecided on Game 6 Goalie vs. Panthers, Defends Pickard After G5 Loss

The Edmonton Oilers' championship aspirations will be on the line when they take the ice Tuesday for Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final, and head coach Kris Knoblauch still doesn't know whether Stuart Skinner or Calvin Pickard will start between the pipes.

"Ultimately, it's who we feel is in the best position to win us a game. It's about who's looking really good at that moment, and then we make our decision," Knoblauch said Monday, per ESPN's Greg Wyshynski.

The goalie position was under even more of a spotlight than usual when Pickard replaced Skinner as the Game 5 starter and allowed four goals on 18 shots in the 5-2 loss to the Florida Panthers.

"There's no fault at Calvin at all on any of those goals," Knoblauch said.

It's not as if Skinner has been much better against the Panthers.

He was benched in Game 3 after allowing five goals on 23 shots and was then benched again in the first period of Game 4 when he gave up three goals on 17 shots. Pickard shined for the rest of Game 4, which allowed the Oilers to come back and even the series with a 5-4 overtime win.

Pickard stopped 22 of the 23 shots he faced as Edmonton overcame the early 3-0 deficit and clinched the game with a Leon Draisaitl goal in the extra period.

Given that as the backdrop, it came as no surprise when Pickard was the Game 5 starter. After all, he had the individual momentum and was instrumental in the team's turnaround in the previous victory.

However, that momentum quickly disappeared when Florida scored two goals in the opening period and never relinquished the lead.

It was the first defeat in this postseason for Pickard, who is 7-1 with a .886 save percentage and a 2.85 goals-against average. Skinner's record isn't as impressive at 7-6, but he checks in with a similar .891 save percentage and a 2.99 goals-against average.

Regardless of who starts, Knoblauch is confident in their ability to bounce back with the season on the line.

"I think Stu, like our team, is very resilient," he said. "They play their best when their backs are against the wall. Whether it's Stu or Picks, I think they've been able to come up big at most important times."

Edmonton will need to win Game 6 on the road on Tuesday and then Game 7 at home on Friday if it is going to lift the Stanley Cup for the first time since 1990. If not, it will mark a second straight year the team fell short in the Final against the Panthers.