Oilers’ Stuart Skinner to start Game 4 with Calvin Pickard still out

Edmonton Oilers’ Head Coach Kris Knoblauch told reporters Sunday that goaltender Calvin Pickard remains out of the lineup and Stuart Skinner would get the start between the pipes in Game 4 of their best-of-seven series against the Vegas Golden Knights, according to Las Vegas Review-Journal reporter Danny Webster.

The news comes just one day after Skinner allowed four goals on 24 shots in the Oilers’ 4-3 loss to the Golden Knights.

Vegas forward Rielly Smith scored with 0.4 seconds left on a shot that deflected off the stick of Edmonton’s Leon Draisaitl, giving the Golden Knights the victory and cutting the Oilers’ series lead to 2-1.

Pickard had taken the starting role from Skinner ahead of Game 3 of their first-round matchup against the Los Angeles Kings after Edmonton had lost the first two games of the series.

Since then, Pickard had gone 6-0 with an .888 save percentage (SV%). Despite allowing four goals in three of his six starts, the Oilers’ offence surged when he was in the crease.

However, Pickard suffered an undisclosed injury in Game 2 against the Golden Knights, forcing Knoblauch to turn to Skinner for Game 3.

Skinner allowed six goals in both of his starts against the Kings in Round 1. During his three starts this postseason, he’s 0-3 with an .817 SV%.

Game 4 is Monday in Las Vegas. Puck drop is at 9:30 p.m. ET, 6:30 p.m. PT.