Panthers’ dominant first period sends Oilers goalie Stuart Skinner to bench ... again
The Florida Panthers once again dominated so much that the Edmonton Oilers had to make an in-game goalie change.
The Oilers pulled starter Stuart Skinner for Calvin Pickard after giving up three goals on 17 shots in the first period of Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final on Thursday.
Matthew Tkachuk scored two of those goals on the power play — the first at five-on-three 11:40 into the frame, the second at five-on-four 16:56 into the period. It was Tkachuk’s first two goals of the Stanley Cup Final, his sixth and seventh of the postseason overall, and fourth and fifth overall this playoffs on the power play.
Anton Lundell made it 3-0 with 41.7 seconds left in the frame on a point-blank shot in front of the net after Carter Verhaeghe poked the puck free with a strong forecheck behind the Oilers’ net.
All of that came after Skinner made a series of big saves in the first half of the frame that stopped the Panthers from building their lead earlier than they did.
Edmonton coach Kris Knoblauch also pulled Skinner early in the third period of Florida’s 6-1 win in Game 3 on Monday after he gave up five goals on 23 shots.
Panthers fans made their opinion heard when Pickard came into the game to start the second period.
“We want Skinner!” they chanted.
This story was originally published June 12, 2025 at 9:31 PM.
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