Oilers’ Stuart Skinner Overcoming Early Season Woes

After being left off Team Canada’s Four Nations Face-Off roster, Edmonton Oilers goaltender Stuart Skinner delivered an impressive 29-save performance, outshining St. Louis Blues netminder Jordan Binnington—the projected starter for Team Canada in February. It seems Skinner took the snub personally, using it as fuel. Notably, this wasn’t a one-off display. His standout effort against the Blues is part of a larger stretch of strong performances, solidifying his status as a rising star in the Oilers’ crease.

---

---

Skinner, along with the rest of the Oilers, endured a rocky start to the season. After his first six games, Skinner held a 2-4-0 record, a 3.51 goals-against average, and a disappointing .872 save percentage—not exactly numbers befitting a Stanley Cup contender or a Team Canada selection. However, momentum shifted following a particularly rough outing against the Minnesota Wild in late November, sparking a noticeable turnaround in his performance.

Related: Snubbed Skinner Shares Sad Truth About Team Canada Decision

Skinner Has Had a Strong November

Since that .808 save percentage performance, Skinner has recorded a 1.50 goals-against average and a .944 save percentage. His only loss during this stretch came against the Vegas Golden Knights, rounding out a strong 3-1-0 record. Remarkably, he posted a .938 save percentage and only allowed one goal against during the Vegas matchup. Goaltending wasn’t the reason the Oilers lost that game.  For perspective, during this stretch Skinner has only allowed six goals on 109 shots.

Looking at the bigger picture, Skinner has been delivering steady numbers since the start of November. Over his last 11 games, he’s recorded a .904 save percentage, a 2.54 goals-against average, and a solid 7-3-1 record. Despite a few subpar outings, his overall performance remains strong, thanks in large part to one of his standout qualities: the ability to rebound effectively after a loss. In such situations, Skinner has recorded a 7-1-1 record with a 2.21 goals-against average and an impressive 0.924 save percentage. 

In just a month, Skinner has elevated his play considerably, helping to fix up his overall numbers. Currently, Skinner sits with a 9-7-2 record alongside a 2.92 goals-against average and a 0.892 save percentage on the season. While not exactly perfect, his recent trend of elite play is indicating Skinner is starting to look like a Stanley Cup and Team Canada-worthy netminder.

Next: Rangers Respond to Tampering Rumors Hurled by Senators