Stuart Skinner Has Another Hockey Life to Write

Something about Stuart Skinner has always made me want to pull for the guy. I remember his first start with the Edmonton Oilers. It was a surprise that he was chosen over the regular backup goalie, but Skinner won in a wild 8-5 game. After that, it’s been sort of up-and-down.

Maybe I root for him because his hockey life has never been particularly simple. He came through Edmonton, became an NHL starter, helped the Oilers reach back-to-back Stanley Cup Finals, took his share of criticism, got traded to Pittsburgh, and now he’s landed in Winnipeg. At 27, he is already in his third NHL organization and somehow still has another chapter to write.

His Winnipeg debut wasn’t perfect. Skinner stopped 26 of 30 shots in a 4-3 overtime loss to Boston, and the Jets were just 98 seconds away from giving him a win in his first game. Elias Lindholm tied the game late, and JJ Peterka won it in overtime.

But here is the thing: I watched that result and didn’t come away thinking Skinner had failed. I came away thinking this might be exactly the sort of chance he needs.

Skinner Doesn’t Need to Be Perfect to Help the Jets

Goaltending can be a funny business. A goalie can make 30 saves and lose. Another goalie can make 25 and win. Then somebody looks at the record the next morning and decides one guy had a good night and the other didn’t. Skinner’s first Winnipeg game reminds us that the number beside the loss doesn’t tell the whole story.

He gave up two goals in the first period, then settled in. Boston was held off the board for almost the entire rest of regulation. Winnipeg took a 3-2 lead. Then came the late deflection that tied the game, followed by an overtime breakaway. That’s hockey.

And perhaps this is what Skinner needs now: hockey that isn’t constantly asking him to prove what he is. Winnipeg signed him to a two-year, $7.5 million contract because the organization believed he could help. The Jets had actually targeted him in free agency before the uncertainty surrounding Connor Hellebuyck became the story.

That’s worth remembering.