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Calvin Pickard Steps Up for Oilers in Crucial Playoff Series

As the NHL playoffs progress, Calvin Pickard is experiencing pivotal moments in his career. The 33-year-old goaltender for the Edmonton Oilers initially started the playoffs as a backup to Stuart Skinner. However, following two consecutive losses to the L.A. Kings in their best-of-seven series, Pickard was promoted to the starting position.

Since taking the helm, Pickard has delivered impressive performances, leading the Oilers to three consecutive victories, including a solid 3-1 win in Game 5. “It feels good getting your name called early,” Pickard remarked, having made 21 saves as Edmonton improved its series record to 3-2.

“I just want to go out and do my job. I’ve been saying it all year. Playing behind our team is a blessing for me, and I want to continue doing my part to help the team win,” he added.

Currently, Pickard holds a 3-0 record in the playoffs with a .904 save percentage and a 2.62 goals-against average. His regular season was also notable, featuring 36 appearances and a record of 22-10-1, alongside a .900 save percentage and a 2.71 goals-against average. This marks the most games he has participated in since the 2016-17 season with the Colorado Avalanche, the team that drafted him in the second round of the 2010 NHL Draft.

Team Confidence Boosted

Edmonton winger Zach Hyman praised Pickard’s performance this season, stating, “He’s played a lot of hockey this year. We’ve played well in front of him. Picks is making every save he needs to make. As a player, that gives you confidence that if you go out and do your job, everything is going to work out.”

Stuart Skinner, who had been the Oilers’ starter throughout much of the regular season, faced challenges early in the playoffs, conceding 11 goals on 58 shots during the initial two games. This situation marks the second consecutive year where Pickard has taken on the starter role partway through a playoff series.

Last season, head coach Kris Knoblauch made the decision to switch goaltenders during the second round against the Vancouver Canucks, with Pickard stepping in and helping the team secure victories. Edmonton would later return to Skinner, who played an integral role as they advanced to the Stanley Cup final, though they ultimately fell to the Florida Panthers in a seven-game series.

“I just think we’ve been fortunate. We have two good goalies, and we feel confident in either one,” Knoblauch noted. “We can put either one in the net and believe we can win that night.”

Prepared for the Challenge

This year, the circumstances for Pickard have shifted positively. Instead of being out of action for an extended period, he was thrust onto the ice just nine days after his last regular-season appearance. “Towards the end of the regular season, I got a decent amount of games to feel ready. Last year, I was off for quite a while before stepping in against Vancouver. But I felt ready to go for Game 3,” he explained.

“I know I’ve just got to go out and do my job, and we’ve been playing well since I’ve been in there. It’s been good,” Pickard added confidently.

Knoblauch emphasized the necessity of having both goalies ready for a lengthy playoff push, and noted in particular Pickard’s eagerness to step up when called upon. “He’s a gamer. He’s ready. He likes the pressure,” the coach affirmed. “A lot of credit to him because there are long stretches where he has not played, and we’ve put him in and said, ‘We need a big game from you.’”

The Oilers will have the opportunity to clinch their series against the Kings on Thursday during Game 6.

Source
globalnews.ca