Connor McDavid Fires Back at Stuart Skinner’s Critics After Game 5 Shutout

“Hopefully it shuts a lot of people up that were talking about him, first and foremost,” McDavid said. “We always had belief in him. 

”He comes in and pitches two shutouts, you can’t say enough good things.”

Skinner started the series on the bench after a rough opening round. He allowed 11 goals over the first two games against Los Angeles and lost the net to Calvin Pickard. 

Pickard went down with a lower-body injury in Game 2 against Vegas, leading to Skinner’s return. to the net.

Skinner has now won five of six elimination games in his playoff career, posting a 1.97 goals-against average and a .926 save percentage in those matchups.

His only loss came in Game 7 of the 2024 Stanley Cup Final against the Florida Panthers.

Edmonton has now reached the Western Conference Final in three of the past four seasons, but has yet to win its first Stanley Cup since it last did in 1990.

“We can defend, we can, we’ve shown that time and time again,” McDavid said. “We came into a tough building and won a 1-0 game, and that’s what matters most.”

Game 1 of the Western Conference Final between Edmonton and either Dallas or Winnipeg is scheduled for next week, with the Stars leading the Jets 3-1 in their second-round series.