Oilers coach calls out goaltending after Game 3 loss to Canucks

Goaltending has long been an Achilles heel for the Edmonton Oilers in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, and that was again evident in Sunday night’s Game 3 loss to the Vancouver Canucks. Stuart Skinner allowed four goals on just 15 shots before being pulled to start the third period, and the Canucks beat the Oilers 4-3 to take back home-ice advantage — and a 2-1 lead in the best-of-7 series.

Edmonton coach Kris Knoblauch admitted afterwards that the team simply needs better goaltending.

“Yes, we need more saves,” said the bench boss afterwards, per ESPN’s Ryan S Clark. “Tonight, obviously, I felt like that with Picks going in the third period but defense along with goaltending is very important to winning hockey games. Especially in the long term. Yeah, it’s got to be better.”

Skinner was pulled after the second period at Rogers Place on Sunday, and Calvin Pickard went 3-for-3 in the third period as most of the offense was at the other end of the rink. Still, the Oilers could have used a key save as they tried to climb back from multiple deficits in the contest.

“We’ll see what he’s got in the future,” Knoblauch said of Skinner after the brutal Game 3 performance. “Whether that’s Game 4 or Game 5 or whatever it is. We’ll be seeing Stu again and have no doubt he’ll respond and play well.”

Knoblauch is certainly leaving the door open for a potential Pickard start in Game 4 on Tuesday, although he did not confirm a starter in his post-game press conference.

Regardless of who is in net, the play between the pipes must improve if the Oilers hope to advance to their second Western Conference Final in three years.

Oilers need much better goaltending to win series