The Oilers will likely roll with Skinner in the crease in their first game of the Stanley Cup Playoffs on Monday night against the Los Angeles Kings. Skinner lost two of his last three starts (1-2-0), including allowing four goals on 13 shots (.692 SV%) in a 5-1 loss to the Colorado Avalanche in their final game of the season when the Oilers opted to rest their top five offensive contributors on the team. That said, Skinner had a serviceable 2023-24 campaign, posting a 2.62 GAA and .905 SV% in 59 contests (36-16-5). The Oilers enter game one as -165 home favourites.
Kane revealed on Sunday that he's been dealing with a sports hernia this season and they decided it was best to rest him for the final three games of the regular season. Kane skated on the fourth line in Sunday's practice, so expect him to play a minimal role to begin the series vs. Los Angeles.
Janmark was nicked up at the end of the season and was questionable heading into their series with the Kings. However, his availability for Sunday's practice is a great sign that he'll play in game 1. Look for him to skate on the fourth line with Sam Carrick and Evander Kane.
Kane missed the final three games o f the regular season but if he's able to practice on Sunday, it's likely that he'll be available for game 1 vs. the Kings. It was a bit of a disappointing season for the veteran winger, who finished the season with 44 points (24G / 20A) in 77 games.
Skinner will get the nod in the Oilers' regular season finale on Thursday after Calvin Pickard got the start in Arizona on Wednesday. Skinner picked up the win his last time out, allowing two goals on 21 shots as the Oilers cruised to a 9-2 victory over the Sharks. The 25-year-old netminder rebounded nicely after a poor start to the season, posting a 36-15-5 record and a .907 SV% across 58 appearances. He will have his hands full on Thursday with the Oilers likely resting some key players in Colorado as they finish the season on the tail-end of a back-to-back.
Ekholm will get the night off on Thursday as the Oilers opt to give him the night off to rest ahead of their playoff run. Leon Draisaitl, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Zach Hyman, Evander Kane, Evan Bouchard, and Connor McDavid will all join him in the press box tonight.
Bouchard will get the night off on Thursday as the Oilers opt to give him the night off to rest ahead of their playoff run. Leon Draisaitl, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Zach Hyman, Evander Kane, Connor McDavid, and Mattias Ekholm will all join him in the press box tonight.
Kane will get the night off on Thursday as the Oilers opt to give him the night off to rest ahead of their playoff run. Leon Draisaitl, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Zach Hyman, Connor McDavid, Evan Bouchard, and Mattias Ekholm will all join him in the press box tonight.
Hyman will get the night off on Thursday as the Oilers opt to give him the night off to rest ahead of their playoff run. Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Evander Kane, Evan Bouchard, and Mattias Ekholm will all join him in the press box tonight.
Nugent-Hopkins will get the night off on Thursday as the Oilers opt to give him the night off to rest ahead of their playoff run. Leon Draisaitl, Connor McDavid, Zach Hyman, Evander Kane, Evan Bouchard, and Mattias Ekholm will all join him in the press box tonight.
Draisaitl will get the night off on Thursday as the Oilers opt to give him the night off to rest ahead of their playoff run. Connor McDavid, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Zach Hyman, Evander Kane, Evan Bouchard, and Mattias Ekholm will all join him in the press box tonight.
McDavid will get the night off on Thursday as the Oilers opt to give him the night off to rest ahead of their playoff run. Leon Draisaitl, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Zach Hyman, Evander Kane, Evan Bouchard, and Mattias Ekholm will all join him in the press box tonight.
Delia has been a career journeyman with 52 games of NHL experience but has spent the entirety of the 2023-24 campaign in the AHL. The 29-year-old has a 3.55 GAA and .872 SV% in 32 games with the Manitoba Moose (AHL) this season.
Podkolzin was the 10th overall pick of the Canucks in the 2019 NHL Entry draft and has been rewarded with a two-year contract extension. He has been limited to 18 games with Vancouver this season, spending most of the 2023-24 campaign in the AHL, scoring 28 points (15G / 13A) in 44 games with the Abbotsford Cancuks.
On the front end of a back-to-back, their second-last game of the season, the Oilers will ride with Pickard between the pipes on Wednesday against the Arizona Coyotes. Pickard has allowed three or fewer goals in three of his last four (2-1-1) but was unsuccessful in his last outing, allowing three goals on 28 shots (.893 SV%) in a 3-2 overtime loss to the Arizona Coyotes. The Oilers enter action as -157 road underdogs.
Philadelphia's season ended Tuesday, so Ronnie Attard has been reassigned to Lehigh-Valley for their playoff run. The 25-year-old defenseman appeared in only 12 games for the Flyers this season and had two assists, 14 SOG, six PIMs and a +1 plus/minus.
Troy Stecher and Philip Broberg will draw into the lineup on Wednesday as the Oilers will rest Darnell Nurse and Cody Ceci in their penultimate game of the season. Stecher has seven points (1G / 6A), 66 hits, and 77 blocks in 52 games this season.
Nurse and Cody Ceci will have the night off for the Oilers on Wednesday, being replaced by Troy Stecher and Philip Broberg. Nurse has had a down year offensively, scoring only 32 points (10G / 22A) in 80 games, his lowest output in six seasons.
On the front end of a back-to-back, their second-last game of the season, the Oilers will ride with Pickard between the pipes on Wednesday against the Arizona Coyotes. Pickard has allowed three or fewer goals in three of his last four (2-1-1) but was unsuccessful in his last outing, allowing three goals on 28 shots (.893 SV%) in a 3-2 overtime loss to the Arizona Coyotes. The Oilers enter action as -157 road underdogs.
The Oilers have lost two straight and will turn to Skinner for consecutive starts for the first time this month. Skinner has played well lately, allowing three or fewer goals in six straight (4-1-1), but was unvictorious in his most recent outing, allowing two goals on 26 shots (.923 SV%) in a 3-1 loss to the Vancouver Canucks. The Oilers enter action on Monday as significant -540 home favourites against the San Jose Sharks.