Oilers turn back to Stuart Skinner in goal in must-win Game 6 - ESPN

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — The Edmonton Oilers, facing elimination against the Florida Panthers in Game 6 on Tuesday night, have flipped back to Stuart Skinner as their starting goalie.

Skinner was pulled in Games 3 and 4 in Florida and was benched in favor of backup Calvin Pickard in their Game 5 loss in Edmonton that gave the Panthers a 3-2 series lead.

«Feeling good coming into tonight. I definitely know that I have the confidence in my teammates and coaching staff,» Skinner said after Edmonton's morning skate. «I think there's obviously a lot of belief here still.»

Skinner was benched after the first period in Game 4, having given up three goals on 17 shots. Pickard stopped 22 of 23 shots as the Oilers won in overtime to even the Stanley Cup Final at 2-2. Pickard got the start in Game 5 in Edmonton, giving up four goals on 18 shots in a 5-2 loss, which put Florida in a position to raise their second straight Stanley Cup over the Oilers.

Skinner was also pulled in the third period of their Game 3 blowout loss in Florida after giving up five goals on 23 shots. He said it was hard watching Edmonton play from the bench over the past three games.

«My job is to stop the puck when I'm told to go in the net. Sometimes I get told that I'm not [in the net]. For sure, it's disappointing,» Skinner said. «I've just got to stick to what my job is. [Those decisions] are over my pay grade. Whenever they tell me to go on the net, I'm definitely not going to say 'no.'»

Knoblauch said after Game 5 that «there's no fault at Calvin at all on any of those goals.» But with their season on the line, the Oilers coach decided to go back to Skinner.

«Stu has been in a lot of high-pressure games. He's played really well,» Knoblauch said. «We