Overview

• Head coach Kris Knoblauch confirmed Saturday that Calvin Pickard will start against Vancouver, with Oilers+ video showing him in the starter’s net.
• Edmonton lost the opener to Calgary in a shootout, and Skinner drew criticism for a misplay on the third goal against, though no official link to the change was made.
• Pickard backed up in 2024–25 and went 22-10-1 with a 2.71 goals-against average and a .900 save percentage over 36 games.
• He won six straight postseason games last spring after replacing a struggling Skinner, helping fuel a comeback against the Kings before the team returned to Skinner later in the run.
• This is the third straight season Edmonton is using a Skinner–Pickard tandem, with reporting noting the club is monitoring its goaltending and weighing market options.