McDavid calls out Skinner haters after Edmonton Oilers oust Vegas
Connor McDavid wasn’t shy to voice his opinion on the criticism Edmonton Oilers netminder Stuart Skinner had been facing.
It felt like everybody was ridiculing Skinner after a rough start to the playoffs. That only got louder when he was forced to start Game 3 versus the Vegas Golden Knights after an injury to Calvin Pickard, a game in which he allowed four goals on 24 shots to end what had been a six-game winning streak.
Instead of faltering under the pressure, however, Skinner responded with back-to-back shutouts to help the Oilers eliminate the Vegas Golden Knights in just five games.
“Hopefully it shuts a lot of people up that were talking about him first and foremost,” McDavid said. “We’ve always had belief in him. He comes in and pitches two shutouts. Can’t say enough good things.”
This game served as a good reminder that, despite many on the outside doubting the 26-year-old goaltender, the Oilers had and continue to have confidence in his abilities.
“He’s gotta be feeling good,” said a grinning Darnell Nurse, who has faced his fair share of critics throughout his Oilers tenure. “Not much better than quieting all the people when they’re talking crap about you. He showed up, and we don’t win this series if he doesn’t step up and play the way that he [did].
“It’s a goaltender that in a lot of ways took us to the Stanley Cup Final last year, and he showed up for us again huge in this series.”
It seems as though being able to pick up a shutout in Game 4 really helped ease Skinner’s nerves. He admitted on Wednesday night that he was much more relaxed heading into Game 5 than he had been for past outings.
“To be honest, today was actually the least [nervous] I’ve been in the last three games, believe it or not,” Skinner said. “I had a feeling of peace tonight. My job is just to give the team a chance to win, I can’t really do too much else. Just trying to do my best out there and whatever happens, happens. The guys played a fantastic game once again.”
Based on how he closed out the series, Oilers fans should expect to see Skinner in the net to begin the Western Conference Final, regardless of Pickard’s health.
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