It has been absolutely no secret that the Edmonton Oilers have struggled with their goaltending this season.
Right from the blowout loss to the Vancouver Canucks in game one, this position has continually let the team down and held them back from being Stanley Cup contenders.
At this point in the season, Moneypuck gave us a list of the worst goalies in the league sorted by goals saved above average.
At the top (or bottom, depending how you look at this) of that list is Stuart Skinner. Also making an appearance is the now demoted to the AHL Jack Campbell, always there as a reminder.
Goaltending a constant dilemma for the Oilers
Since we are Oilers fans and have spent decades trying to cope with the existential pain of being a fan of the team, we have to find some positives in this. Skinner is not the worst when that stat is sorted per 60 minutes, he falls to a very respectable ninth worst.
But it still cannot lead to anything good when this team’s starting goalie is playing that much below expected on a regular basis.
We can argue that some of this is the defensive lapses that keep generating high quality chances against that any goalie would struggle to save.
The Oilers’ goalies, however, continually give up way more goals than they should. Giving up goals on shots that should not go in.
Much has been made about this team’s attempts to trade for a goalie. But a recent hot streak and what appeared to be a settling into things from Skinner cooled the coals on that fire.
Now, with a three game losing streak, the Oilers have returned to their goaltending struggles as they slip further away from a playoff spot once again.
No matter how hard they try, the Oilers cannot outscore their problems. They don’t even need a Vezina winning goalie. Just someone who is average and consistent.
Do the Oilers need a new goalie for Christmas? Drop a comment down below with who you think would be the best fit.
Photo by Derek Cain/Icon Sportswire
You like many others only see the final outcome as the problem with the Oilers and if all else fails blame the goaltender. Skinner is NOT the problem with the Oilers. For example the Islander game lost 3 to1. On the 1st goal Nurse left his check (the goal scorer) to attack some other perceived threat. Goal 2 was ca 2 on 1 break with the lone defender disobeying all common rules in hockey. In this situation the defender is to take away the pass and leave the puck carrier to the goaltender. The defender did neither resulting in the cross ice pass and goal. Goal number 3 was a typical screwup by Bouchard waving his stick and doing nothing. So using these stats, Skinner 100.0% save percentage, 5 skaters 85.7% save percentage. Now who is the problem? This problem has been a long standing problem with the Oilers that was somewhat mitigated by the offense scoring 5 or 6 goals a game which they are not doing this year. If their offensive play is any indicator it seems they are more interested in passing the puck around the periphery until they lose it than the are in setting up scoring chances. Have you ever seen them set up a player at the hash marks in the slot for a premium shot. No the always dump it into the scrum in front of the goaltender hoping for a miracle bang into the net. Another observation is the Oilers have forgotten that the top half of the net exists. They seem to think the only way to score is through the five hole and McDavid has become the absolute worst at this move.