Pre-Game Talk: Game 2. The Stuart Skinner Shit Show (with Pole!)

[OilyAlbertan]

tell you what, if we get "average goaltending".... anything LESS than a Conference Final in 2026 is unacceptable with our new goalie (cause we are getting a new one)....I mean, even this tandem got this far
in fact, it's guaranteed, correct?

skinners cousin spotted

 

[CantHaveTkachev]

skinners cousin spotted

joins in March 2025 and most posts crying about Skinner lol

 

[MessierThanThou]

tell you what, if we get "average goaltending".... anything LESS than a Conference Final in 2026 is unacceptable with our new goalie (cause we are getting a new one)....I mean, even this tandem got this far
in fact, it's guaranteed, correct?

I don't think you understand that this is a closing window on a team that could've had at least one Cup by now were it not for their blind faith in a goalie with a bottomless pit of a floor.

 

[5 Mins 4 Ftg]

If not historically bad then certainly generationally bad.

I mean it cannot be argued but the only thing the Skinner defenders can point to is “he got us to Game 7”. That’s it. Oh and he’s great in Game 4’s. Otherwise he’s a human rollercoaster ride but we’ve seen the pattern now and he is unplayable in Games 1-3 of a series.

 

[OilyAlbertan]

joins in March 2025 and most posts crying about Skinner lol

Sorry your cousin is trash at goaltending, man

 

[CantHaveTkachev]

Will we even have the same team? Is Klingberg coming back? We still need to sign Bouchard...

I don't think you understand that this is a closing window on a team that could've had at least one Cup by now were it not for their blind faith in a goalie with a bottomless pit of a floor.

who cares about the past....crying about the past doesn't fix the problems of the future
IF we get a goalie who puts up "average goaltending", what is your minimum expectation? even if this roster is getting older... average goaltending gets us a Cup correct?
again...this tandem right here has us in back-to-back Conference finals and 1 win away from a Stanley Cup....'average goaltending" must ensure AT LEAST a Cup

 

[rboomercat90]

I mean it cannot be argued but the only thing the Skinner defenders can point to is “he got us to Game 7”. That’s it. Oh and he’s great in Game 4’s. Otherwise he’s a human rollercoaster ride but we’ve seen the pattern now and he is unplayable in Games 1-3 of a series.

He’s unplayable in all the games.

The reason his winning percentage is better in 4-7 is because the team has their backs against the wall by that point in the series (because of his play) and need to play perfectly the rest of the way to win. Hard to play perfectly four games in a row against elite teams without a stumble though unfortunately. We found that out against Florida last year.

 

[MessierThanThou]

who cares about the past....crying about the past doesn't fix the problems of the future
IF we get a goalie who puts up "average goaltending", what is your minimum expectation? even if this roster is getting older... average goaltending gets us a Cup correct?
again...this tandem right here has us in back-to-back Conference finals and 1 win away from a Stanley Cup....'average goaltending" must ensure AT LEAST a Cup

Again. Closing window, aging roster. We have no idea how this club will look next season or how the team will perform on the ice. What we do know is that this team as it currently exists couldn't lose a playoff game this postseason with Pickard (who could be considered an average goaltender) in net.

 

[CantHaveTkachev]

Again. Closing window, aging roster. We have no idea how this club will look next season or how the team will perform on the ice. What we do know is that this team as it currently exists couldn't lose a playoff game this postseason with Pickard (who could be considered an average goaltender) in net.

I mean, this is all hypothetical and you're the one claiming "average goaltending and we win a Cup" and if goaltending is as vital to the team as you say it is...surely it will make up the deficiencies of the roster, if there's major roster turnover
just wanna know if you think this team should be the Cup favorite with average goaltending

 

[MessierThanThou]

I mean, this is all hypothetical and you're the one claiming "average goaltending and we win a Cup" and if goaltending is as vital to the team as you say it is...surely it will make up the deficiencies of the roster, if there's major roster turnover
just wanna know if you think this team should be the Cup favorite with average goaltending

Yes, we were undefeated for six straight games with Pickard. I have zero doubt we could've beaten Dallas last night with him in net and would be considered the Cup favorite right now.

As for next season, impossible to say when we don't even know what the roster will look like, how they will perform, who will be healthy, etc... We don't have that information to make that assessment. We do have enough information to conclude that this team had/has a much better chance of winning at least one Cup over the last three postseasons with a better goalie than Skinner.

 

[5 Mins 4 Ftg]

Just of note that a lot of the Andy Moog and Murray Bannerman stats are due to playing against the Oilers. I was at a lot of those games. lol

Still think its funny how the picture is framed by Stars players feasting and laughing at Skinner. All having a good laugh. "Its so f***ing easy scoring on this dope"

I mentioned that.

"Now show it after crossing off the goalies who played in the 80's when the league average save percentage hovered around .885 not to mention that half of those goalies were routinely lit up by the 80's Oilers for 6-8 goals a game come playoff time."

 

[5 Mins 4 Ftg]

tell you what, if we get "average goaltending".... anything LESS than a Conference Final in 2026 is unacceptable with our new goalie (cause we are getting a new one)....I mean, even this tandem got this far
in fact, it's guaranteed, correct?

Wasn't planning on getting involved but its a - what do you guys call it nowadays - a straw man argument or gaslighting - I dont get these new fangled terms, we just called it bullshit back in the day, but anyway that is a false pretence as you are looking into a future where the team will change as will others. You can only really look back as you have tangible stats and results with which to use.

2025/26 we have the 1st year of Draisaitl's new deal, probably a massive $6.M+ pay raise for Bouchard plus Kane will not be on LTIR for the entire season and little cap space left meaning we will have to jettison some of the depth we have acquired during this season.

Would we have won a cup with average goaltending, I think last year one can make a very solid argument that we would have. The year before Jay Woodcock and his stubborn coaching cost us versus Vegas but Skinner was not very good vs LA and added games to the series with his terrible play early on.

Skinner has a very established track record and pattern of play now recorded in results. His save percentage is the worst among modern goaltenders in the playoffs over 40 games played.

At some point in time the buck has to stop with him, but it doesn't because it goes over his short side shoulder.

 

[Oilhawks]

Wasn't planning on getting involved but its a - what do you guys call it nowadays - a straw man argument or gaslighting - I dont get these new fangled terms, we just called it bullshit back in the day, but anyway that is a false pretence as you are looking into a future where the team will change as will others. You can only really look back as you have tangible stats and results with which to use.

2025/26 we have the 1st year of Draisaitl's new deal, probably a massive $6.M+ pay raise for Bouchard plus Kane will not be on LTIR for the entire season and little cap space left meaning we will have to jettison some of the depth we have acquired during this season.

Would we have won a cup with average goaltending, I think last year one can make a very solid argument that we would have. The year before Jay Woodcock and his stubborn coaching cost us versus Vegas but Skinner was not very good vs LA and added games to the series with his terrible play early on.

Skinner has a very established track record and pattern of play now recorded in results. His save percentage is the worst among modern goaltenders in the playoffs over 40 games played.

At some point in time the buck has to stop with him, but it doesn't because it goes over his short side shoulder.

The bolded should really put this to bed, considering 'advanced stats' were handwaved...but it hasn't, there are always excuses for Skinner. Much more than any players that have earned plenty (or at least some) of benefit of the doubt like McDavid, Draisaitl, Hyman, Bouchard, etc

 

[MessierThanThou]

Wasn't planning on getting involved but its a - what do you guys call it nowadays - a straw man argument or gaslighting - I dont get these new fangled terms, we just called it bullshit back in the day, but anyway that is a false pretence as you are looking into a future where the team will change as will others. You can only really look back as you have tangible stats and results with which to use.

2025/26 we have the 1st year of Draisaitl's new deal, probably a massive $6.M+ pay raise for Bouchard plus Kane will not be on LTIR for the entire season and little cap space left meaning we will have to jettison some of the depth we have acquired during this season.

Would we have won a cup with average goaltending, I think last year one can make a very solid argument that we would have. The year before Jay Woodcock and his stubborn coaching cost us versus Vegas but Skinner was not very good vs LA and added games to the series with his terrible play early on.

Skinner has a very established track record and pattern of play now recorded in results. His save percentage is the worst among modern goaltenders in the playoffs over 40 games played.

At some point in time the buck has to stop with him, but it doesn't because it goes over his short side shoulder.

His post doesn't deserve this good of a reply. I'd "like" this thrice if I could like any post at all.

 

[MessierThanThou]

Prove it

Huh? He’s only played 2 games after game 3 this year..

 

[Whoshattenkirkshoes]

I just don't see Frederic getting to plays or on the forecheck.

They probably leave him in just for the optics lol. Can't have your big TDL acquisition sit.

Frederic was looking better towards the end of the La series and now he looks like shit so idk if he re injured himself or what

 

[Dieseloil]

I still stand by my stance that the players on the PK did a good job in game 1. The first powerplay opportunity for the Stars they generated nothing and couldn’t even get in the zone. Skinner then is not even close to saving a wrist shot from the point. The Heiskanen and Duchene goals were awful and made the PK look bad. The idea that your PK needs to be so good that it gives up no chances against is unrealistic.

It’s the penalty killers fault he can’t stop floaters from the point dontcha know?

 

[Lay Z Boy GM]

It’s a shame Pickard is hurt, stupid f***ing Hertl man.

I’m not a Pickard Stan, I just think he’s ok. I don’t expect him to go undefeated against a team like Dallas or Florida. Those teams will have games where they pot a handful against him.

Even if he comes back for game 3 he’s not necessarily going to save the day. They’ve got to win a game in Dallas tomorrow, if we get some help in Ekholm and Pickard I’d prefer not be down a couple games in the series.

 

[Whoshattenkirkshoes]

It’s a shame Pickard is hurt, stupid f***ing Hertl man.

I’m not a Pickard Stan, I just think he’s ok. I don’t expect him to go undefeated against a team like Dallas or Florida. Those teams will have games where they pot a handful against him.

Even if he comes back for game 3 he’s not necessarily going to save the day. They’ve got to win a game in Dallas tomorrow, if we get some help in Ekholm and Pickard I’d prefer not be down a couple games in the series.

The good news is we looked like the much better team. Let's cross our fingers and hope we get the win.

Go home with a 1-1 split and get some guys healthy.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Frederic was looking better towards the end of the La series and now he looks like shit so idk if he re injured himself or what

Part of the issue is going from playing with Henrique and Brown to and Janmark and Perry.

Henrique and Brown do a fantastic job disrupting the puck so he has the time to catch/keep up. But with his current linemates Perry doesn't have the speed to get in on the forecehck and Janmark has to stay back, as he's the only one able to cover all the open ice. Thus you have a line that's super easy to maneuver around.
I think a straight forward rule for line building should be just you can't have any of Kane, Frederic, or Perry together on a line.

Personally I wouldn't mind having Perry sit for a game (especially after his dumb penalty) and putting RV or Kap on RW with Fred and Janmark.

 

[yukoner88]

Jeff Skinner should get inserted into the lineup.

Stetcher had tough outting. Stars forecheckers hounded him into a lot of turnovers, getting Emberson back in there until Elkholm is ready to go to keep the fresh bodies in there and kicks some ass

 

[Austerlitz]

tell you what, if we get "average goaltending".... anything LESS than a Conference Final in 2026 is unacceptable with our new goalie (cause we are getting a new one)....I mean, even this tandem got this far
in fact, it's guaranteed, correct?

I'd settle for a goalie who can manage a .900 svp in half of his playoff starts.

Skinner has 22 starts below .900 and 19 above it.

 

[tardigrade81]

Time to shut these guys up

 

[M Ace]

At least Skinner doesn't do this!

Mike Smith doing Smitty things

 

[Jimmi McJenkins]

At least Skinner doesn't do this!

Mike Smith doing Smitty things

Yeah, that one sucked, but also he's been worse utterly and completely.