The bounce-back Game 4 that Stuart Skinner needed for the Edmonton Oilers

Despite the Oilers’ control of play, the Golden Knights were still getting chances. The expected-goals read 2.80–2.23 in Edmonton’s favour, suggesting they did deserve to win but perhaps by a 3–2 score rather than the 3–0 whitewash we saw. This lines up with the fact that Skinner saw two scoring chances labeled “high-danger”, and maybe wasn’t expected to stop them but did anyways.

Helping Skinner out was the 21 total shots his teammates blocked for him, and the stout defensive game that resulted in just 44 *attempted shots* the entire game for Vegas. One other key stat is that Stu did not face any rebound shots on goal, though there were also a couple of those expected. Rebound control has been a bit of a problem sometimes for Skinner, and this was one of his better games on that front.

*All stats via MoneyPuck.com

A cooled-down Stu is piping hot

Being a larger goalie, Skinner is more of a positional netminder. He can provide some acrobatic saves from time to time, but when he’s set for the shot, cutting down the angles for the shooter, and in control of rebounds is when he’s at his best. Though the distance he traveled from his crease on the Game 3 winner was very questionable, he legitimately was making the angle impossible for Vegas forward Reilly Smith to score on and indeed, if not for Draisaitl’s stick, Smith’s shot attempt would have sailed straight across the crease.

Game 3 aside, Skinner plays a lot better when he’s composed and ready in net, as opposed to scrambly and losing control of rebounds. Last night was a perfect case study, as on saves like these, Skinner reacted with perfect composure and structure to these shots.

Some teams work better with relaxed goaltenders, while some work better with more passionate netminders. Last night, Vegas seemed to respond to Adin Hill’s fiery demeanour, only allowing one goal against after Henrique’s two tallies, the latter of which saw Hill and the other Golden Knights on the ice go after Evander Kane for the net-front chaos taking place when the goal was scored. Edmonton seems to be the opposite—when Skinner is cool, calm and collected, the Oilers play a more confident game in front of him. That came through in a big way in Game 4.

Looking at this game’s impact on the bigger picture

Game 4 continues a trend for Skinner, where he takes some time to settle in to a series but then becomes difficult to beat in the later games. In Game 4’s alone, following Monday night’s performance, Skinner owns a 5–0 record, with two shutouts, a dazzling .953 save percentage, and an NHL-best-all-time 1.32 goals-against average. There isn’t ever a sweep of the Oilers happening on Stu’s watch.

As for later games overall, this was his stat line before Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final, during last year’s run:

This becomes very crucial for the Oilers. The last thing you want to do is let Vegas back into the series, up three games to one. If the Oilers can’t get the job done on the road tonight, they will have Game 6 at home on Friday night to try and wrap up the series.

To have a goaltender who’s usually money in the deeper parts of a playoff series, starting those games for you is massive. It’s even more of a confidence boost when said goalie is coming off a Game 4 shutout. The last time Skinner did that, the Los Angeles Kings meekly exited with a Game 5 loss two nights later.

The 2025 Vegas Golden Knights are a little more formidable than the 2024 Los Angeles Kings were, but if the team, and especially Stu, keeps this confident play going through Game 5, the Oilers’ next home game could very well be during the Western Conference Final.