Ex-Oilers Stuart Skinner: Finding His Game in Black and Yellow
It’s hard not to root for Stuart Skinner. Really, it is. A kid who gave everything to Edmonton and the Oilers. He showed up every day, not just on the ice but in the community. Now—well—he’s in Pittsburgh, wearing black and yellow instead of blue and orange. It’s not where he probably imagined himself, but sometimes life nudges you into new corners and, in Skinner’s case, it looks like it might just suit him.
Skinner Settles In Over Four-Game Streak
Sunday night offered a glimpse of that. Skinner faced 32 shots against the Canucks, stopping 30 to hold a 3-2 win. The Penguins built a 3-0 lead through two periods, and sure enough, the Canucks chipped back with goals from Jake DeBrusk and Teddy Blueger, but Skinner didn’t waver. He stood tall, held the line, and earned his fourth straight win. Over those four games, he’s allowed nine goals on 108 shots—numbers that hint he’s settling in, learning this new city, this new team, maybe even finding a new version of himself.
For the season, the 27-year-old’s record sits at 18-12-4 with a 2.65 GAA and a .896 save percentage over 34 starts. Not earth-shattering, but solid. Reliable. And, they’re getting better each game. If he continues this kind of play, he’ll soon be above the .900 save percentage. He’s starting to put up the kind of numbers that show he’s a goalie who can be leaned on, who can carry a team when called upon. And the way he carries himself, day after day, it’s impossible not to admire.
Could Pittsburgh Be the Change He Needed?
So here’s the question: Could this move, one he probably didn’t want, be exactly what Skinner needs to really find his footing, maybe even his best self? Pittsburgh isn’t Edmonton, and it isn’t exactly home. At least, not yet. That said, it’s a place where the young goalie can shine without all the familiar pressures. And let’s be honest, you kind of want to see him do just that. It’s hard not to.
The Penguins get a short breather before hosting the Blackhawks Thursday, but for Skinner, the streak and the adjustment are reminders: sometimes the path you didn’t choose ends up being the one that helps you grow. And if that happens, well, we can all quietly cheer for him from wherever we are.