Oilers’ Skinner Has Message For Fans After Blanking the Rangers

After a rocky season opener, Stuart Skinner delivered the perfect rebound performance Tuesday night in New York. The Edmonton Oilers netminder was flawless, stopping all 30 shots he faced in a 2–0 shutout victory over the Rangers — his eighth career shutout and third straight win at Madison Square Garden.

Skinner was good against Calgary, but had a costly error playing puck on the Flames’ third goal. In this game, he was perfect, turning aside 15 high-danger scoring chances and finishing with 3.53 goals saved above expected. Skinner noted he was feeling it from the early morning skate and through the game, shutting the door at every opportunity presented to the Rangers — and there were many.

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He was under pressure often, but stayed steady through a tight, hard-fought game. “I think it’s really good for our morale in general,” Skinner said postgame. “Being able to fight one off, being able to battle and grind — that was a man’s game out there.”

Skinner took a lot of heat over the past few days, particularly from fans who are under the assumption he’s going to inevitably falter and not be the goaltender the Oilers need to win a Stanley Cup. When asked if this game was a statement game and a message to those fans, he responded, “I mean, yeah I think I think no matter what, if I’m playing the way that I want to play then I’m going to feel good and you just want to carry that on despite wins losses and despite external ideas or thoughts or whatever is going on out there.”

In other words, say what you want. If he’s feeling good, he knows he’s more than a competent NHL goalie.

Rangers Continued to Be Snakebitten on Home Ice

The Rangers, now shut out in three consecutive home games to open their season, pressed hard early but couldn’t break through. Skinner made key stops on Artemi Panarin, Alexis Lafrenière, and a late Sam Carrick breakaway to preserve the clean sheet. He credited both the penalty kill and the group’s defensive commitment for the result: “The way that we defended — every single guy worked so hard in our end.”

The way the Rangers played, Skinner was surprised to learn that they’d not scored at home yet this season.

Trent Frederic provided the eventual game-winner on a second-period breakaway, while the Oilers’ penalty kill went a perfect 5-for-5. The victory improves Edmonton’s record to 2-0-1 and gives them their second straight strong defensive effort to open the road trip.

For Skinner, it was the type of mature, bounce-back performance that can define an early season. “No matter what’s going on, if I’m playing the way I want to play, then I’m going to feel good,” he said. “Everyone was feeling it tonight.”

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