Edmonton Oilers tap Calvin Pickard for Game 3 start against L.A. Kings

Trailing in a Stanley Cup playoff series is nothing new to the Edmonton Oilers.

Last year alone, the Oilers overcame 2-1 and 3-2 deficits against the Vancouver Canucks, as well as a 2-1 deficit to the Dallas Stars.

But as the Oilers prepare to play host to the Los Angeles Kings on Friday, they know Game 3 is paramount in their best-of-seven Western Conference first-round series.

Edmonton is down 2-0 in the series and has surrendered six goals in each loss, with No. 1 netminder Stuart Skinner under the microscope because of it.

That prompted a change as the Oilers are now turning to Calvin Pickard in the crease.

Pickard relieved Skinner midway into the third period of Wednesday's 6-2 loss to the Kings. He allowed one goal on three shots.

Playoff hockey returns to Edmonton

The journeyman goaltender was asked on Friday afternoon how he plans to approach Game 3.

"The same way I've approached every game as an Oiler, go out and do my job and give our team a chance to win," Pickard said.

"Obviously the last two games didn't go as planned in all facets, but we know we have a better effort in this locker room and we know we're going to do that tonight."

Pickard went 22-10-1 for Edmonton this season. He made his NHL playoff debut last season.

Defenceman Darnell Nurse noted that it wasn't all Skinner's fault.

"We've been hanging our goalie out to dry on quite a few occasions," Nurse said.

"I think he's actually made some huge stops for us in a timely manner, too, so we got to be better."

Is the Oilers and Kings matchup a rivalry no one wanted, or more than that?

Then again, five-on-five defensive play is only one part of the equation for the Oilers.

Their special teams performance has been abysmal. While Edmonton's power play has