Stuart Skinner breaks down fluky goal that cost Edmonton Oilers Game 1
Game 1 of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs was almost magical for the Edmonton Oilers, but they had to settle for heartbreak instead.
A thrilling third-period comeback from Edmonton was dashed in the final minute of Monday night’s game with a fluky goal propelling the LA Kings to victory. Phillip Danault didn’t snipe home the game-winner, nor did he crash the crease to squeak it through Stuart Skinner.
Instead, the veteran Kings forward actually whiffed on a shot from the slot and somehow got it over Skinner’s shoulder and into the Oilers’ net. The fluky nature of the game-winner made the loss sting that much more for Edmonton.
PHIL DANAULT WINS IT FOR LA WITH 42 SECONDS LEFT IN THE THIRD š±š±š± #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/MgoH7nmDyW
— NHL (@NHL) April 22, 2025
On first glance, it looked like a goal that the Oilers goaltender should have had. He was well-positioned and, as mentioned, it isn’t like Danault put a lot of sauce on it. However, when you look at the circumstances around the shot, it starts to make a bit more sense.
Skinner broke down the goal on Tuesday afternoon with reporters.
“It was weird, I completely lost the puck,” Skinner said. “Got to a decent spot and then whoever was in front of me, might have been [Warren Foegele], he was right in front of me, so I lost track of the puck.
“He obviously flubbed it. Has a little rainbow shot and [Foegele] jumps about seven feet up in the air and it goes through his legs… It happens, and just time for us to reset.”
"We gotta be patient, we gotta be strong defensively, being able to play that chess match. It's a tough building to win in, but we've done it before, we know how to do it."
Stuart Skinner on what the #Oilers need to do to win in Los Angeles.@Enterprise | #LetsGoOilers pic.twitter.com/GtAhgAOmpz
— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) April 22, 2025
The screen from Foegele, combined with Skinner not expecting a bit of a knuckle-puck shot, makes that a very difficult situation to make a save on. Even still, the Oilers needed a save there, and they didn’t get one.
Skinner ended Game 1 allowing six goals on 30 shots, which landed him with a dismal .800 SV% on the night. He will need to be better if the Oilers want a shot at eliminating the Kings for a fourth consecutive season.
Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch has not committed to Skinner as the Game 2 starter, so we will have to wait to see if he gets a chance for redemption on Wednesday night.