When the stakes are highest, the real players show up. On Monday night, Stuart Skinner reminded everyone in Edmonton—and across the hockey world—why he backstopped the Oilers to the Stanley Cup Final just a year ago. In a must-win Game 4 against a dangerous and desperate Vegas Golden Knights team, the pressure couldn’t have been higher. With social media doubters circling and his recent struggles under the microscope, Skinner didn’t just show up—he shut them up. His 23-save, 3-0 shutout was a statement performance that turned the series and silenced the noise.
Stuart Skinner silences doubters with 23-save shutout
Stuart Skinner’s return to the crease came not as a planned revival, but as a necessity after Calvin Pickard was sidelined. Many questioned whether the embattled starter could handle the spotlight again. But Skinner delivered—calm, collected, and composed.
“Stu is an outstanding goalie and whenever he has a bad game or time off, he usually comes back with a solid game,” said Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch. “We knew it was coming. He made some good saves especially early on, with all their power plays. Not only did he make all the saves but he looked confident doing it.”
Confidence wasn’t easy to summon after losing the starting role earlier in the playoffs. What was supposed to be a brief reset turned into a six-game exile. When he finally returned, it was more out of necessity than preference. Still, Skinner was unshaken.
“That’s the only thing I can really do,” Skinner said postgame. “Everything in the past happens and what you can do from there is learn from it and keep moving forward and not panic.”
He stood tall against Vegas’ early surge, including a breakaway save on Ivan Barbashev that set the tone. Through an 11-shot third period push, he didn’t budge.
“We all face pressure, but to be a No. 1 goalie in a market like this there’s probably extra pressure,” said Adam Henrique. “The mental aspect… is probably above and beyond any other position, and he does a great job with that.”
In a postseason where even elite goaltenders are falling short, Skinner reminded everyone what resilience looks like. “It’s just sticking to my process and playing my game,” he said. For Edmonton , that mindset—and that performance—could be the turning point.
Also Read: Toronto Maple Leafs take game 1 as William Nylander dominates against Florida Panthers
Stuart Skinner silences doubters with 23-save shutout
Stuart Skinner’s return to the crease came not as a planned revival, but as a necessity after Calvin Pickard was sidelined. Many questioned whether the embattled starter could handle the spotlight again. But Skinner delivered—calm, collected, and composed.
“Stu is an outstanding goalie and whenever he has a bad game or time off, he usually comes back with a solid game,” said Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch. “We knew it was coming. He made some good saves especially early on, with all their power plays. Not only did he make all the saves but he looked confident doing it.”
Confidence wasn’t easy to summon after losing the starting role earlier in the playoffs. What was supposed to be a brief reset turned into a six-game exile. When he finally returned, it was more out of necessity than preference. Still, Skinner was unshaken.
STUART SKINNER HEARD YALL WERE TALKING SHIT AND DECIDED TO SHOW YOU HOW IT WAS DONE. pic.twitter.com/uoQm7q7NWs
— C (@cecidrais) May 13, 2025
“That’s the only thing I can really do,” Skinner said postgame. “Everything in the past happens and what you can do from there is learn from it and keep moving forward and not panic.”
He stood tall against Vegas’ early surge, including a breakaway save on Ivan Barbashev that set the tone. Through an 11-shot third period push, he didn’t budge.
“We all face pressure, but to be a No. 1 goalie in a market like this there’s probably extra pressure,” said Adam Henrique. “The mental aspect… is probably above and beyond any other position, and he does a great job with that.”
In a postseason where even elite goaltenders are falling short, Skinner reminded everyone what resilience looks like. “It’s just sticking to my process and playing my game,” he said. For Edmonton , that mindset—and that performance—could be the turning point.
Also Read: Toronto Maple Leafs take game 1 as William Nylander dominates against Florida Panthers
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