The long, winding road to Jeff Skinner’s first Stanley Cup Playoff goal

When he was inserted back into the lineup against the Detroit Red Wings on Jan. 30, not only did he score his ninth goal of the campaign, but he also made one of the best backchecks I’ve seen from any Oiler this season. He read a play perfectly when his team gave up a 2-on-1, hustled back on the check, broke up the Red Wings’ attack, and continued to make numerous strong defensive plays in the games that followed.

Overall, it seemed like Skinner had turned the page from late January onward, adding a more defensive mindset to his game, and with injuries piling up down the playoff stretch — most notably to McDavid and Draisaitl — Skinner appeared to be playing his best hockey of the season, putting up eight points in the final 14 games and finishing the regular season with 29 points in 72 games (16G, 13A).

Skinner’s Improved Play Down the Stretch Wasn’t Enough to Keep Him in the Lineup After Game 1 vs. L.A

Fast forward to the start of the playoffs — after waiting 1,078 NHL regular-season games to get the chance — Skinner finally made his long-awaited postseason debut in Game 1 against the Los Angeles Kings on April 21. He played just over 11 minutes, tallying an assist and showed he was buying into playoff hockey by being physical, tying for second on the team with five hits. However, he was also on the ice for three goals against at 5-on-5. And, of course, history repeated itself — Skinner was healthy scratched from that point on.

As we know, the Oilers defeated the Kings in six games and then pushed through the Vegas Golden Knights in five. When they took a 2-1 series lead against the Stars, it didn’t seem like Skinner would play in the Western Conference Final either — until Zach Hyman got injured in Game 4, opening another opportunity for Skinner to get back into the lineup.

The 32-year-old got the nod to return to the lineup for Game 5, and, like he’s shown throughout the season despite all the highs and lows, he flashed his smile and playful side before the game. When asked if sitting out shows how good the Oilers are and how much depth they have, he jokingly responded, “I hope so, otherwise the other option isn’t good for me,” all while flashing that playful grin.

But when the puck dropped in Game 5, Skinner was all business.

I have to give him a tremendous amount of credit — he stayed ready both physically and mentally for when his name was called, and he didn’t disappoint. In Game 5, the Oilers came out flying on all cylinders against the Stars, scoring two goals early, and Skinner’s signature playoff moment so far came at the 8:07 mark of the first period — after a big battle in front of the net, he kicked the puck to his stick and tucked it between the pads of Casey DeSmith, who had come in to relieve Jake Oettinger.

I was watching the game at Greta Bar Yeg, and when the 15-year NHL veteran scored his first-ever playoff goal, a few “SKINNER!!” yells broke out, with everyone so happy for him, and rightfully so. Skinner, on the human side of things, just seems like a likable guy. He came to Edmonton expecting to be a top-six player but was demoted and in and out of the lineup throughout the season, even missing playoff games. Yet, he kept pushing through, made adjustments to his game, and by all accounts, never complained. After 1,078 regular-season games, he can now proudly say he has two points in two playoff games, including a big goal in an elimination game in the Western Conference Final.

Additionally, Skinner had a great Game 5 overall. Playing just under 13 minutes, he scored a goal, fired three shots on net, and had three hits. He also made a big block in the first period, truly ‘laying it on the line’ and sacrificing his body to help his team. Moreover, for a player who’s been held out of the lineup — presumably due to concerns about his defensive game — he performed well in that area too.

Furthermore, he played on a line with Adam Henrique and Trent Frederic, and heading into Game 5 vs. the Stars, I thought that line’s weakness might be a lack of speed, but that wasn’t the case at all. They forechecked hard and maintained sustained offensive pressure. In just over eight minutes of ice time, they generated a 4–2 shot advantage and a 2–1 edge in high-danger chances, tilting the ice in the Oilers’ favour.

It remains to be seen if that line will stick together with Connor Brown set to return to the lineup, or if Skinner will remain in the lineup moving forward, but after the game he played and the goal he scored in Game 5 vs. the Stars, I feel he deserves at least the first crack in Game 1 vs. the Florida Panthers.

Nevertheless, the Oilers lineup has been full of stories of resilience and overcoming adversity — from Calvin Pickard fighting his way back into the NHL and recording six straight playoff wins this postseason, to Kasperi Kapanen going from waivers earlier in the season, to scoring three huge playoff goals, and now Jeffrey Scott Skinner persevering despite lineup setbacks to score his first-ever NHL playoff goal after 15 years.

It’s a special bunch, these Oilers are, and with Skinner’s latest goal, he became Edmonton’s 19th different playoff goal scorer. I, for one, am very excited to see what this year’s squad can do against the Florida Panthers — who also have 19 players who have scored in the playoffs — in the Stanley Cup Final. Overall, I feel Oilers fans are in for something special.