‘I felt bad for both of them tonight’: Connor McDavid defends Oilers’ goalie duo after blowout loss to Stars
The best player in the world is coming to his teammates’ defense after another abysmal performance.
The Edmonton Oilers were smacked around by the Dallas Stars at Rogers Place on Tuesday night, losing to their postseason rivals by a final score of 8-3. Starting goaltender Stuart Skinner allowed four goals on eight shots, while Calvin Pickard came in relief, only to allow another four on 22 shots.
It not only marked the fourth loss in the last five games for the two-time defending Western Conference champions, but the team also gave up five or more goals for the fifth time in the last three weeks.
Including a 7-3 loss to the Washington Capitals last week, Edmonton has allowed seven or more goals thrice in November, including another embarrassing defeat on home ice on Nov. 8, losing 9-1 to the Colorado Avalanche.
The constant criticism surrounding the team has been the play of its goaltending, as both Skinner and Pickard are struggling early in the season. It has reignited the conversation about whether general manager Stan Bowman will finally pull the trigger and make a change between the pipes.
Yet, on Tuesday, Oilers captain Connor McDavid felt like it was time to stand up for the two masked men, citing that the team didn’t do much to support its goaltenders.
“I really feel like goaltending is a team thing,” McDavid said after the loss. “I don’t care who it is…When the team in front of them isn’t playing up to their standards, tough for a goalie to look good. I felt bad for both of them tonight.”
The Oilers were outshot 30-25 by the Stars, who beat Edmonton for the second time this season. The visiting squad put four goals up in the first period, before coasting the rest of their way to its seventh win in its past nine contests.
Through 18 starts, Skinner has a record of 8-7-3, with a 3.18 goals-against average, a .878 save percentage and one shutout. In nine games, Pickard is 2-3-2 with a 4.04 GAA and a .847 SV%.
The Oilers (10-10-5) visit the Seattle Kraken on Saturday afternoon.