EDMONTON — Stuart Skinner got the nod to return to the Edmonton Oilers' net for Tuesday's playoff game against the Los Angeles Kings after he was pulled in the previous game.
The Oilers swapped out Skinner for Jack Campbell when the Kings scored three goals on 11 shots in the first period of Sunday's Game 4.
Campbell turned away 27 shots over two periods and overtime — including a game-saving pad stop on an all-alone Viktor Arvdisson — as Edmonton came back to win 5-4 in overtime and even the best-of-seven series 2-2.
But Skinner was to get another chance in Game 5 at Rogers Place.
"Stuart's been our starting goaltender here the second half of the year," Oilers head coach Jay Woodcroft said before Tuesday's game. "He's played great and we expect a great game out of him today."
Skinner, 24, is appearing in his first NHL playoffs, and in his hometown.
"I missed stopping the puck in those two periods, or three periods I guess you could say," Skinner said. "Excited to get back in there."
The Oilers signed the 31-year-old Campbell last summer to a five-year, US$25-million contract.
Skinner supplanted the nine-year NHL veteran as Edmonton's No. 1 last fall. Skinner signed a three-year extension worth $7.8 million in December.
He was the victim of some defensive breakdowns in front of him in the first period of Game 4.
Woodcroft said he made the switch to light a fire until the Oilers after their horrible first period, but Skinner felt he played a part in that.
"I apologized to Jack for doing that to him," Skinner said. "You never get put in a great spot when you go in cold. He did a great job."
After he calmed down Sunday, Skinner said he watched and learned from Campbell.
"Every time I watch Jack in the net, I see his tendencies and what he likes to do," Skinner said. "He was just so calm in there, so aware of the plays going on. I'm going to take that in and hopefully do the same thing he did."
Skinner appeared in his first all-star game in January. He posted a 29-14-5 record with a .914 save percentage and 2.75 goals-against average in the regular season.
Skinner was 1-2 in the playoffs with a .881 save percentage and 3.38 goals-against average heading into Tuesday's game.
Campbell went 21-9-4 in the regular season with a 3.41 goals-against average and .888 save percentage.
"Just looking at the last few starts I've had and even (Sunday) night a little, small sample," Campbell said. "I felt good, ready to go and using that confidence, having good practices, definitely gives me a lot of swagger right now, so it's good.
"Our goal is to win the Stanley Cup. I do have a lot of faith in myself and what I can do on the ice, but when I'm not in the net, I know I can provide a spark that way too. Just trying to help whatever way I can."
It's been a few years since Campbell came into a game of major magnitude to help pull his team out of the ditch.
The American replaced Mike Lee in the second period of the 2010 world junior men's hockey final in Saskatoon.
Campbell stopped 32 shots en route to helping the United States beat host Canada 6-5 in overtime for gold.
Also, the Oilers recalled goalie Calvin Pickard from their American Hockey League affiliate Bakersfield on Tuesday.
Pickard, of Moncton N.B., had a 23-12-2 record with a .912 save percentage and a 2.70 goals-against average with the Condors this season.
The 31-year-old has played in 116 NHL games with Colorado, Toronto, Philadelphia, Arizona and Detroit but has yet to make a playoff appearance in his career.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 25, 2023.
Donna Spencer, The Canadian Press
