Oilers gaining confidence from Pickard's composed play
In the heart of the NHL, Calvin Pickard, a seasoned pro at 33, find himself in the thick of the action with the Edmonton Oilers. This veteran goaltender has been called upon to shine in the limelight after the team's starter faltered in the opening games against the Los Angeles Kings.
Hailing from Edmonton, Pickard started the series as Skinner's backup. But when the Oilers dropped the first two games, his time came. Remarkably, he steered the team to an impressive streak of three consecutive victories, such as their 3-1 triumph in Game 5, powered by 21 saves from Pickard himself.
"It's great to get the nod," Pickard said after Game 5. "I just want to play my part, doing my thing, and this team has been a blessing. I'm here to keep helping them win."
His numbers tell the story. In this series alone, Pickard boasts a 3-0 record, reaping a .904 save percentage and a 2.62 goals-against average. These stats pack a punch when added to his impressive 22-10-1 record, .900 save percentage, and 2.71 goals-against average racked up this season.
This season marks Pickard's busiest since his tenure with the Colorado Avalanche back in 2016-17.
Fellow winger Zach Hyman praised Pickard, stating, "He's a trustworthy goalie, making the right saves time and again. As a player, that gives you confidence." Hyman's words echo the faith the team has in their backup.
Remarkably, this isn't the first time Pickard has been called upon in the playoffs. Last year, midway through a series, head coach Kris Knoblauch opted to swap Skinner for Pickard for two games. The rest, as they say, is history, with the Oilers triumphing over the Vancouver Canucks in a nail-biting seven-game series.
Stuart Skinner had been the team's primary starter throughout the season, garnering a 26-18-4 record, .896 save percentage, and a 2.81 goals-against average with three shutouts. However, his performance faltered at the series' onset, surrendering 11 goals on 58 shots.
Coach Knoblauch has expressed confidence in both goalies, noting, "We have two solid goalies on our roster. We trust either one to lead us to victory."
Pickard's timely return to the game differs from his experience last season. Instead of languishing on the bench throughout the first round, Pickard was given a nine-day break between his last regular-season game and his playoff debut.
"By the end of the season, I was rotating regularly and felt prepared," Pickard shared. "Last year, I had a long wait before stepping in against Vancouver."
Knoblauch added, "Calvin is a consistently ready player. We've relied heavily on him for big moments, and he consistently delivers."
With the Oilers on the brink of securing the series in Game 6, Pickard has an opportunity to cement his name in the team's history books.
- As the backup goaltender for the Edmonton Oilers in the NHL, Calvin Pickard stepped up after the team's starter faltered, picking up a 3-0 record in the series against the Los Angeles Kings and boasting a 0.904 save percentage and 2.62 goals-against average.
- During the series, Pickard's impressive performance helped the Oilers achieve an impressive streak of three consecutive victories, powering their 3-1 triumph in Game 5 on his own with 21 saves.
- Fellow winger Zach Hyman praised Pickard, stating, "He's a trustworthy goalie, making the right saves time and again" and his words echo the faith the team has in their backup.
- For Pickard, this season marks his busiest since his tenure with the Colorado Avalanche back in 2016-17, having the chance to cement his name in the team's history books as they are on the brink of securing the series in Game 6.
