Kris Knoblauch has a very big decision to make: Who will be his starting goalie for Game 4 on Tuesday night?

Stuart Skinner didn’t start the third period in Game 3 after allowing four goals on 15 shots in the first 40 minutes.

Skinner has allowed 12 goals on 58 shots through three games. He has an ugly .793Sv% and 4.40GAA. None of the goals in Game 3 were awful, however, he was unable to make a key stop.

Is he struggling with the lack of shots? He faced 24 shots in Game 1, 19 in Game 2 (overtime) and 15 through two periods of game three.

Does he need a mental rest, more than a physical rest?

Regardless of what it is, Skinner’s numbers are the worst of the remaining eight goalies in the playoffs.

Skinner has the worst Sv% and worst GAA. The numbers aren’t flattering.

“I won’t commit to who is starting Game 4,” Knoblauch said post game.  “It is very emotional right now as the game just ended. We will discuss it tomorrow.”

Knoblauch did add, “Whether it is Game 4 or Game 5, Skinner will play again,” when asked about his starting goalie.

While the numbers suggest it is obvious, a decision like this is never easy or taken lightly.

Knoblauch along with Dustin Schwartz and the other coaches will discuss the options and scenarios.

Since arriving in Edmonton, Knoblauch has shown he is willing to give players a chance to redeem themselves, but he also isn’t afraid to make a change, whether it is his line combinations, defence pairs or having a player sit in the press box. But this is a major decision.

Do they give Skinner a chance to get right back in, or do they give Calvin Pickard his first playoff start? I think they will go with the latter.

They don’t need their goalie to steal them the game. They have limited Vancouver’s shots and scoring chances. They just need solid, consistent goaltending, and in the regular season Pickard showed he is capable of doing it.

However, the playoffs are different, as Skinner can attest.

A night off might help Skinner. But I can’t say for certain and doubt anyone can. This could be a major decision in the outcome of the series, and whomever Knoblauch picks to start Game 4 has to play well or the Oilers could be facing elimination on Thursday.

TIME FOR SECONDARY SCORING TO SHOW UP…