Edmonton Oilers’ Fans Worry as Calvin Pickard’s Absence Leads to Goalie Change for Upcoming Game: “This Isn’t Fair”

Despite starting the playoffs later than most of his teammates, Calvin Pickard has been incredible between the pipes. “We love battling for him,” said the Oilers captain, Connor McDavid, of the team’s netminder ahead of the Round 2 campaign of the 2025 postseason. However, despite being a steady contributor to Edmonton’s success, the goalie will be sitting out the next game against the Golden Knights, and the fans are understandably vexed.

After losing the first two games of the playoffs this season, the Oilers became the first team in NHL history to register five back-to-back comeback wins. In fact, their latest victory against the Golden Knights in Game 2 took that tally to six. In all those six matches, Calvin Pickard was bestowed with the netminding responsibilities, and we daresay he executed his task with gusto. But ahead of Game 3 against the Vegas Golden Knights, the 33-year-old has been listed as “day-to-day” with an undisclosed injury, and the Oilers loyalists can’t help but feel the blues.

NHL insider Elliotte Friedman took to X on May 10 to note that Stuart Skinner would be replacing Pickard at Rogers Place for the third game of Round 2. “Calvin Pickard did not take morning skate in Edmonton. Stuart Skinner told reporters he is starting tonight,” Friedman’s post shares. Skinner will be returning to the team after playing the first two games of the playoffs against the Kings (posting a 6.11 goals-against average and .810 save %).

Considering that Calvin Pickard has been solid since starting the postseason games this year, fans are justifiably unhappy with the change before the Oilers’ first home game of Round 2. The Golden Knights are trailing 0-2 after two games, and with Pickard guarding Edmonton’s net, fans were feeling comfortable. But with Skinner coming in, all that faith seems to be shaky. “no. why. this isn’t FAIR,” bellowed one fan, who just isn’t on board with Kris Knoblauch’s move.

Calvin Pickard did not take morning skate in Edmonton

Stuart Skinner told reporters he is starting tonight

— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) May 10, 2025

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The post Edmonton Oilers’ Fans Worry as Calvin Pickard’s Absence Leads to Goalie Change for Upcoming Game: “This Isn’t Fair” appeared first on EssentiallySports.