The Stanley Cup Playoffs are a time for unsung heroes to be born and NHL franchises to create memorable moments for their fans. Led by backup goalie Calvin Pickard, the Edmonton Oilers evened their second-round series with the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday with a 3-2 win at home in Game 4.
Pickard, a 10-year NHL veteran, stopped 19 shots in his first career Stanley Cup Playoff start. His path to Tuesday night's game took longer than he might have hoped, but Pickard stepped up when the Oilers needed him most and gave them a new spark in the series.
“What a great story for a great guy. He has come up big for us all year. So happy for him,” Oilers center Leon Draisatil said, per Jason Gregor.
Pickard started 20 games for the Oilers in the regular season, his most starts since the 2016-17 season. He posted a respectable 2.45 goals against average, a .909 save percentage and one shutout.
Following his first playoff win, the 32-year-old reflected on his journey and what Tuesday's victory meant to him and the Oilers.
“I don't know if it’s quite sunk in,” Pickard said, per Mike Zeisberger of NHL.com “And it’s a big win for us.
“Obviously making my (NHL) debut 10 years ago and really not getting playoff action really much at either level, it’s an exciting opportunity for me.
“The guys have been great in front of me and now, it’s the best of three.”
Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch did not name a starting goaltender for a crucial Game 5 in Vancouver on Thursday. Edmonton turned to Pickard after Stuart Skinner allowed 12 goals across the series' first three games. Skinner started 57 games for the Oilers in the regular season, posting a .905 save percentage and 2.62 GAA.
Oilers make it a best-of-three series
Following a Game 3 loss, the Oilers desperately needed a response in Game 4. Goalie changes in the playoffs don’t always work, but the move to Calvin Pickard paid off for Edmonton and perhaps gave them a new perspective on the series.
The Oilers can hang around with any team in a slugfest and that's exactly what this series has been. All four games so far were decided by one goal and at least seven goals were scored in the first three games.
Game 4 is the outlier with three goals on the board more than 58 minutes into the contest before each time scored late. The victory has to give the Oilers confidence they can win the tight games without relying on their offense. Not every win in the Stanley Cup Playoffs is pretty, but a win is a win no matter how it's looked at.
There are no guarantees in the playoffs, and Game 4 was a prime example. The Oilers blew a two-goal lead in the third period and the game seemed destined for overtime after the Canucks tied it with less than two minutes left. Edmonton avoided the extra period thanks to a game-winning goal from defenseman Evan Bouchard with 40 seconds left in the third.
Bouchard has been another bright spot for the Oilers in the playoffs. After a breakout regular season where he totaled 82 points, Bouchard has 15 points in nine playoff games. He's scored in three consecutive games, including the game-winner in overtime in Game 2.
Perhaps another under-the-radar name will emerge as the hero for the Oilers at some point in this series. Regardless, Edmonton has to feel a lot better about its outlook on the series after Game 4 than it did following Game 3.
Follow Us
Subscribe