Skinner allowed three goals on 23 shots in the Oilers loss to the Sabres last Tuesday. Through two appearances, Skinner has gone 0-1-0 while turning aside 51 of 54 shots (.944 SV%. That brings his SV% to .913 through 16 career appearances (14 starts). On Wednesday, he'll face a Blues team that is 3-1-0 and just knocked off Jack Campbell and the Oilers 2-0 on Saturday.
Lazar was placed on the injured reserve Wednesday with an undisclosed injury. He is the fourth Canuck player to hit the IR this week. Through seven games in 2022-23, he has one goal and six shots while playing 14:51 ATOI centering the Canucks fourth line.
Head coach Bruce Boudreau announced Monday that Stillman will miss the Canucks game against the Carolina Hurricanes. The defenseman has yet to get a point in his first five games after joining the Canucks in the offseason, collecting seven PIMs to go along with his -3 plus/minus on the season.
Skinner should draw his first start of the season Tuesday as the Oilers host the Sabres on home ice. The Edmonton native was phenomenal in relief of Jack Campbell Saturday stopping all 31 of 31 shots while limiting the damage in the Oilers' 4-3 loss to Calgary. He enjoyed a strong first rookie season in 2021-22, collecting a .913 SV% while winning six of 12 starts.
Stillman appeared in 52 games with the Blackhawks in 2022, scoring two goals with 10 assists (12 points), while delivering 122 hits and blocking 67 shots. Stillman is likely insurance for Tyler Myers, who suffered a lower-body injury this week.
The Sabres selected Savoie with the No.9 overall pick in this summer's NHL Draft. Savoie played for the Winnipeg Ice (WHL) in 2022, leading the team with 90 points (35G / 55A) in 65 games.
Walman was acquired from the Blues for Nick Leddy at the trade deadline and had four assists in 19 games with the Red Wings. With Walman out for the start of the season, there's a very good chance that rookie Simon Edvinsson will start the season with the Red Wings.
Pickard has appeared in 116 career NHL games with five different teams since 2015, going 35-54-19 with a 3.03 GAA and .903 SV%. In 2022, he spent most of the year in the AHL, going 21-16-5 with a 2.58 GAA and .918 SV% with Grand Rapids. He'll likely replace Stuart Skinner in Bakersfield.
With the Oilers facing elimination, they will be without their best defenseman in Game 6. Nurse missed the final four games of the regular season with an injury and the Oilers went 3-1-0 without him.
