Edmonton Oilers

Finding His Rhythm: The “Skinner Watch” Continues in Pittsburgh

Learn about the incredible turnaround of Stuart Skinner with the Pittsburgh Penguins, showcasing extraordinary goaltending skills.

by
Brent Bradford
January 10, 2026

The noise surrounding Stuart Skinner has finally started to shift. After the massive headlines following his trade from the Edmonton Oilers, some fans wondered if the hometown kid from Oil Country could actually hack it away from Alberta. Early on, the move to Pittsburgh looked like it might be a disaster; Skinner stumbled out of the gate, dropping his first few starts and leaving the Penguins faithful wondering if they’d traded for a liability.

But over the last week, the script has flipped.

Something has clearly clicked for Skinner in the “Steel City. He’s currently on a three-game tear where he’s looked like a completely different goaltender, slamming the door shut and allowing just a single goal in each appearance, while posting a save percentage hovering around .950. It’s early days, but if this version of Skinner is here to stay, that December trade is going to look like a massive win for Pittsburgh.

A Balanced Crease in Pittsburgh’s Current Win Streak

It’s not just the “Skinner Show” in Pittsburgh, though. While Skinner is finding his groove, goalie partner Arturs Silovs has also been playing well, posting four consecutive wins. This has resulted in a “win by committee” goalie tandem lately, where both netminders are giving the Penguins a chance to win.
In support of Skinner’s play, Pittsburgh writer Josh Yohe recently noted: “The Penguins were indescribably bad in the first period and, thanks to Stu Skinner, lead 1-0… Skinner was outstanding.”

The View from Oil Country

Back in Edmonton, the trade debate continues. While Tristan Jarry won his first three games for the Oilers, he’s unfortunately unavailable due to an injury; Edmonton is, therefore, relying on Calvin Pickard and Connor Ingram to give the Oilers a chance to win.

As the 2025-26 season rolls on, the “Skinner Watch” will continue as the trade debate keeps fans talking. Back in May, Skinner said, “… I’m proud of myself for going through everything that I’ve had to go through personally. It takes a lot of courage to keep on getting up.” He’s not just getting up; he’s starting to rewrite the narrative around his ability as a goaltender, which is only good news for him in a contract year.

Next: How Important Are the Canadiens Goalies in the Playoffs?