Oilers goalie tandem ranks top in the Pacific Division

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Finnegan Frost
October 9, 2024 (6:21 PM)

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It was recently revealed that the Edmonton Oilers goalie tandem has ranked 1st place in the entire Pacific Division.

Kevin Woodley, a highly respected hockey analyst at NHL.com has recently published his rankings of the best goaltender tandems in within their respective divisions, and Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard have emerged at the top of the totem pole.

According to Liam McCormick of Oilers Daily, The Edmonton Oilers had a full blown goalie crisis to begin last year, and now being ranked first in the division is maybe a little optimistic - but they have come a long way. Stuart Skinner stumbled to begin last season and struggled at a time in the playoffs, but for the vast majority of the time he's been a capable starting goalie. Last season Skinner started an incredible 59 games, posting a 36-16-5 record with a mediocre .905 save percentage.

The Oilers have more faith in veteran journeyman Calvin Pickard as their backup goalie than anyone else in recent memory. The 32 year old has played 139 games with 6 different teams in his career, and is a reliable and steady presence when called upon. In 23 games last year, he actually had a better save percentage than Skinner at .909. When called upon in the playoffs too, Pickard's calm style of play was just what the Oilers needed. Watch for Calvin Pickard to get more starts this season after he earned the trust of Coach Knoblauch last year.

This has come as somewhat of a surpsise for NHL enthusiasts. Although Stuart Skinner managed to take the Oilers all the way to game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals last season, he's never been considered an elite goaltender in the NHL.

With that being said, Skinner ranks first for wins, second for games played, sixth for goals against average and fifth for save percentage for all Canadian goalies the last two regular seasons. Stuart Skinner has his eyes set on cracking the starting roster for team Canada ahead of the 4 Nations Cup, in addition to getting the team back to the Stanley Cup.