Pickard to start for Oilers against Canucks in Game 4

 

Tuesday at 9:30 p.m. ET on Rogers Place in Edmonton, the Edmonton Oilers' Game 4 of the Western Conference Second Round against the Vancouver Canucks will feature a start for Calvin Pickard.

Following a 4-3 loss in Game 3 on Sunday, where Stuart Skinner let up four goals on fifteen shots before being replaced by Pickard in the third period, the Oilers now trail 2-1 in the best-of-7 series.

“It’s exciting,” Pickard said after the morning skate Tuesday. “Obviously all you can ask for is an opportunity in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. I felt like I had a good season, and the preparation is done and I’m excited to get out there.”

In his first Stanley Cup Playoffs, Pickard made three stops in the third period. In 23 regular-season games (20 starts), he was 12-7-1 with a 2.45 goals-against average, a.909 save percentage, and one shutout. In 139 career regular-season games (113 starts), he is 47-61-11 with a 2.93 GAA, a.904 save percentage, and five shutouts for the Oilers, Detroit Red Wings, Arizona Coyotes, Philadelphia Flyers, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Colorado Avalanche.

In eight playoff games, Skinner is 5-3 with a 3.22 GAA and a.877 save percentage. Against the Canucks, he has given up 12 goals on 58 shots (4.40 GAA,.793 save percentage).

Edmonton leads the series in shots on goal, 94–61, having outshot Vancouver 45–18 in the third-game setback.

"Obviously you never want to get pulled in a game; you feel like you let down the team, so I have some work to do to get back at it and learn from the mistakes that I have been making," Skinner said Monday.

In 59 regular-season games (57 starts), Skinner finished 36-16-5 with a 2.62 GAA, a.905 save percentage, and two shutouts.