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As the Edmonton Oilers get ready for Game 5 of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final, the team has been weighing the possibility of making a change at the goalie position. Goalie Stuart Skinner was pulled from Game 4 after a rough first period.
But backup Calvin Pickard stepped up for the Oilers to help them tie the series at 2-2. Now heading into Game 5, Edmonton has made a decision on who will start the crucial contest.
The Oilers will be rolling with Pickard for Game 5 of the series. This now puts Skinner back on the bench as the backup for one of the more important games of the entire series.
Calvin Pickard will start Game 5 of the #StanleyCup Final pic.twitter.com/AMXL8z16cX
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) June 14, 2025
Skinner has gone 7-6 with a 2.99 GAA, a .891 save percentage, and three shutouts over 14 starts this postseason. In comparison, Pickard has posted a record of 7-0 with a 2.69 GAA and .896 save percentage in nine games.
Both goalies have been great for the Oilers during the playoffs, but they have been victims of different streaks. Pickard starting Game 5 likely gives the Oilers a better chance to win, considering his previous performances through the playoffs.
The Florida Panthers seemed to figure Skinner out through the first few games of the series, so Pickard offers Edmonton something different. With the Oilers hosting Game 5, the pressure is on them to win this game, if only to avoid going on the road facing elimination.
Game 5 between the Oilers and Panthers is scheduled to take place at 8 p.m. ET on Saturday.
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Veteran center attempting NHL comeback
Free-agent center Adam Ruzicka turned to the KHL last season and had a solid showing in Russia with Spartak but notably hasn’t signed a new deal there yet. Spartak adviser Valeri Kamensky told Alexander Abustin of Sport-Express that the reason Ruzicka hasn’t re-signed yet is because he’s holding out hope to get another NHL opportunity. The 26-year-old was a fourth-round pick by Calgary back in 2017, going 109th overall. He spent parts of four seasons with the Flames before being claimed off waivers by Arizona in early 2024. However, a month later, Ruzicka and the Coyotes agreed on a mutual contract termination a month later, making him an unrestricted free agent. After another NHL chance didn’t materialize in short order, he ultimately signed with Spartak in late May 2024. Ruzicka was certainly productive in Russia, notching 26 goals and 19 assists in 65 regular-season games, good for fifth in team scoring. He was even better in the playoffs, picking up seven goals and five helpers in 12 postseason contests, making the most of his opportunity to play a more offensive role after being more of a depth player in the NHL. Over his four NHL seasons, Ruzicka has played in 117 games, picking up 14 goals and 26 assists. However, a good chunk of that production came in 2022-23 when he recorded 20 points in just 44 games with Calgary before his output tailed off the following year. Basically, he’s not too far removed from being a legitimate depth contributor at the top level. Kamensky acknowledged that discussions are underway with Ruzicka so if he doesn’t get another NHL look, he’ll simply re-sign. But, for now at least, it appears he’s hoping to get another chance at the top level first.
Green Bay Packers: 2 Notable Former Wide Receivers Labeled as Surprise Cut Candidates
As the Green Bay Packers deal with their own crowded wide receiver room, multiple former Packers pass-catchers are also embroiled in position battles across the league. Notably, two veterans that turned in many successful seasons in Green Bay now find themselves battling to make rosters and have been labeled as big names that could become surprise cuts when rosters are trimmed down. New York Jets May Soon Be Done With Former Green Bay Packers Receiver Allen Lazard Former Packers receiver Allen Lazard was always a favorite of Aaron Rodgers during their time together in Green Bay. When Rodgers left the franchise, Lazard ended up following the quarterback to the New York Jets. While the Rodgers era for Gang Green has gone up in flames, Lazard remains on the roster – for now. Lazard entered camp as the presumed second receiver behind Garrett Wilson, but so far, fellow veteran Josh Reynolds has seemingly beaten out Lazard for the second spot. A former Detroit Lion, Reynolds has reportedly been building a good rapport with new signal-caller Justin Fields, leaving Lazard potentially relegated to slot duties. Although the Jets have receiver depth problems, some experts don’t believe that Lazard will survive cuts. The Athletic’s Zack Rosenblatt has stated that he does not expect Lazard to be on the 53-man roster. Some names behind Lazard on the current depth chart include veteran Tyler Johnson and rookie Arian Smith, both of whom have had flashes of ability in camp so far. Several of the younger players also offer one thing that Lazard notably doesn’t – the ability to play on special teams. If Lazard is cut by the team, it would mean the team would have moved on from another former Packer after dumping both Rodgers and Davante Adams this summer. Can Former Green Bay Packers Receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling Stick in Seattle? Marquez Valdes-Scantling was a member of the Green Bay Packers from 2018 to 2021, playing out his rookie contract with the team while being a big part of the offense. He had over 2,000 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns for the green and gold before leaving for Kansas City in free agency. In 2025, Valdes-Scantling was with the New Orleans Saints until he signed a one-year deal with the Seattle Seahawks worth around $4 million. Despite the 29-year-old being a proven veteran and solid deep threat, Valdes-Scantling currently finds himself near the edge of the Seahawks roster. Rookie receiver Tory Horton has already surpassed Valdes-Scantling on the depth chart and has been the fourth receiver in the team’s first-team rotation so far. Valdes-Scantling has been relegated to the second unit in training camp practices as of early August. Respected NFL writer Brady Henderson has said that Valdes-Scantling has “barely made any” plays throughout camp so far, whereas Horton has continued to catch eyes and has been nicknamed “Jerry Rice Jr.” by teammate Tariq Woolen. Like Lazard, Valdes-Scantling does not offer much on special teams either, and although the Seahawks would love to have a deep threat to compliment Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Cooper Kupp, if Valdes-Scantling does not show up in camp, the team could move on from the former Green Bay Packer with little financial consequence.
Pedro Martinez Tells Yankees Players To ‘Strap It On’ Amid Skid
The Yankees’ freefall is the headline of baseball right now, so it is not afraid that it has caught the attention of Hall of Famer Pedro Martinez. After New York’s fifth straight loss, a 2-0 defeat to the Rangers Tuesday night, Martinez took to Twitter with a message that felt like a challenge. “It’s hard to believe that the Yankees would be at this stage at this time in the season,” Martinez wrote. “I imagine how NY fans are feeling right now. Strap it on boys! #mlbontbs” The loss continued a brutal stretch for New York, now losers of 19 of its last 27 games. Their once-safe playoff position has become a daily fight. As of Tuesday night, they’re barely hanging on to the final American League Wild Card spot. They are just a half-game ahead of the surging Rangers, and now trailing the Red Sox in the standings. Martinez, once a Yankee nemesis during his Red Sox days, didn’t sound like he was taunting the Bronx crowd this time. It was more disbelief than delight. It was almost a bit of tough love from someone who knows what October baseball is supposed to look like. And he knows it doesn't look like this. Aaron Judge returned from the injured list on Tuesday, but his presence wasn’t enough to turn the tide. He went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts, and afterward told teammates in no uncertain terms that this is on them. He said it was time to look in the mirror. Martinez’s “Strap it on, boys” had a similar tone. There’s still time for the Yankees to turn things around. But if they don’t, you can be sure the rest of baseball—including Pedro—is going to have something to say about it.
Jerry Jones vocal in defense of handshake deal not being honored by Micah Parsons
Jerry Jones seems to be a firm believer that a handshake deal is as binding as any written contract. The Dallas Cowboys owner has maintained his stance that he had reached a verbal agreement with Micah Parsons on a contract extension back in March. On Tuesday, Jones was asked by NFL Network’s Jane Slater about the agreement not being put in writing. The 82-year-old claimed his initial acquisition of the Cowboys in 1989 started with a similar handshake deal. “I bought the Dallas Cowboys with a handshake,” Jones said, via The Athletic’s Jon Machota. “It took about 30 seconds. I gave the number, shook hands, the details we worked out later. As a matter of fact, one of the details involved a lot of money and I had to flip a coin over that. But the fundamental, ‘I’m buying and you’re gonna sell it to me for that range,’ that’s done. And those are done with eye contact and handshake. “Just so you understand the way that I communicate with people that I negotiate with. Let’s leave it at that. There’s no question that in the case of a player contract, you have to have it in writing. All parties do. We have a contract in writing, yet we’re still talking about renegotiating, so so much for that.” Parsons does not deny that he talked about contract terms with Jones in March. However, the star linebacker claims that he did not believe the conversation to be a formal negotiation. Parsons asserted in his trade request statement that he believed the conversation was going to be about team leadership before Jones shifted gears to talk about an extension. You can read more about Parsons’ side of the story here.
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