It could’ve gone wrong in so many ways. Instead, it helped Edmonton tie the series 2-2.
Credit: Dec 10, 2023; Edmonton, Alberta, CAN; Edmonton Oilers goaltender Calvin Pickard waits for play to start against New Jersey Devils at Rogers Place. Mandatory Credit: Perry Nelson-USA TODAY Sports
Knoblauch would have been second-guessed until the cows came home. Bet another spring of Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid magic on a 32-year-old journeyman who hasn’t been good enough or important enough to even start AHL playoff games over the last decade? What, are you nuts? The safe play was Stuart Skinner.
The Oilers have allowed both the fewest scoring chances and the fewest high-danger scoring chances of any team still standing in the Stanley Cup playoffs, according to. So as much as Knoblauch displayed a measure of confidence in Pickard’s ability to be dropped into the playoffs for his first start since April 18, he actually bet the quarter section of land on his team’s ability to defend.Pickard didn’t need to be lights out. He just needed to be passable.
“It’s a lot easier when you have the lead,” Knoblauch said. “And also, a lot of credit to our fourth line. Janmark, Ryan, Brown — they gave us a lot of quality minutes, and they gave us a lot of quality minutes against some of their good players. It’s not like we were putting them out against fourth line, I think they had just as many shifts against the fourth line as they did against their first and second lines.
Pickard bailed out the Oilers early, they picked him up late. Mattias Ekholm said Pickard had a “killer mindset.” It was an incredible scene watching Pickard salute the crowd as the Three Stars selection. “It’s been a long time, obviously,” Pickard said. “Drafted in Colorado, played there for a couple years, you think you’re going to be on the same team your whole career, then 10 teams later you’re here. It’s been a great journey, there have been a lot of learning experiences for me. I’m just grateful for this opportunity.”
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