Edmonton Oilers goalie Calvin Pickard, who has won six games in a row, is day-to-day with an undisclosed injury so Stuart Skinner will start in net for Game 3 against the Vegas Golden Knights.
Skinner was pulled in Game 2 of the opening series against the Los Angeles Kings and has a 6.11 goals-against average and .810 save percentage. Pickard is 6-0 with a 2.84 GAA and .888 save percentage.
But Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch noted that Skinner came back in last season’s playoffs after taking time off during the second round and helped carry Edmonton to Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final.
‘We expect (Skinner) to come in and deliver what he’s done before,’ Knoblauch said, adding, ‘I think he’s ready and we’re going to go from that.’
Said Skinner: ‘I’m excited to go back into the net. I’ve had some time to work on some things and I’m ready to go.’
The Oilers lead the Golden Knights 2-0 in the second-round series heading into Game 3 in Edmonton (9, TNT, truTV). Follow along with live updates:
Golden Knights on power play
Zach Hyman loses his balance and falls into Adin Hill, knocking off his mask. Connor McDavid has the best chances with a couple shorthanded rushes.
Oilers-Golden Knights score: Vegas takes lead
William Karlsson takes advantage of an Oilers line change and gives the Golden Knights the lead on a give-and-go with Noah Hanifin. Golden Knights 3, Oilers 2
Big save by Stuart Skinner
Skinner dives across to stop a wraparound attempt by Tomas Hertl.
Mark Stone ruled out
The Golden Knights say Mark Stone won’t return to the game because of an upper-body injury.
Second period underway
Still no Mark Stone.
Mark Stone injury update
Golden Knights captain Mark Stone didn’t play the last six-plus minutes of the first period.
End of first period: Oilers 2, Golden Knights 2
Corey Perry gave the Oilers a 2-0 lead, his second goal coming on a power play. But the Golden Knights roared back to tie. On the first Vegas goal, Stuart Skinner couldn’t control a Nicolas Hague shot and Nicolas Roy put in the rebound. The second goal was a great individual rush by Reilly Smith.
Brayden McNabb injury update
Golden Knights defenseman Brayden McNabb, who went hard into the boards after an unpenalized trip in Game 2, is in the Game 3 lineup.
He didn’t take part in the morning skate but skated in warmups and played.
The Golden Knights also got back injured forward Pavel Dorofeyev, their leading goal scorer during the regular season. He replaced Brandon Saad, who’s day-to-day with a lower-body injury.
Forward Nicolas Roy is available after the NHL Player Safety department fined him after a hearing instead of issuing a suspension for his cross-check to Trent Frederic’s face in Game 2.