Edmonton asked a lot from Calvin Pickard by tossing him into Game 4 with his team down 3-0 after the first period Thursday, but the Oilers sure are glad the unsung netminder was up to the task.
"It's hard to describe," superstar Leon Draisaitl said after Edmonton's 5-4 overtime victory against the Florida Panthers. "The situations that (Pickard) gets put in sometimes, they're not always easy, right? ... He makes those stops at the key moments that we really need them. He's one of the best in the league at making the right save at the right time. He's been nothing but spectacular for us."
Pickard made 22 saves on 23 shots in relief, including on Anton Lundell's breakaway attempt in the second frame and Sam Bennett in overtime. He finished with one goal saved above expected and turned aside all six high-danger shots faced as the Oilers drew even in the Stanley Cup Final, per Natural Stat Trick.
"Calvin coming in, I couldn't be happier for him. ... I guess it shows that anybody at anytime can make an impact," Edmonton defenseman Jake Walman said. "We're pumped for Calvin and proud of him."
Oilers forward Vasily Podkolzin shared a similar sentiment, saying: "He's a beauty. ... He saved us tonight."
Pickard is the sixth goalie in NHL history to win a Stanley Cup Final game in relief, joining Andrei Vasilevskiy (2015), Frank Pietrangelo (1991), Roger Crozier (1975), Gord Henry (1953), and Lester Patrick (1928), according to NHL PR. He's also the fourth Oilers netminder to win seven straight games in a postseason.
Edmonton initially turned to Pickard after Stuart Skinner struggled through the first two games of the opening round against the Los Angeles Kings. Pickard started the Oilers' next six contests before getting injured in Game 2 of the second round.
The crease belonged to Skinner after that, but he was hooked in Games 3 and 4 of the Stanley Cup Final.
Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch didn't blame Skinner for his club's disastrous opening 20 minutes Thursday. Edmonton was outshot 17-7 in the first period and took three penalties, with the Panthers scoring twice on the man advantage.
"It's unfortunate for Stu to be pulled there," Knoblauch said. "Our team was flat. We didn't give him many opportunities. ... But unfortunately, we needed to change things up, and the change was great."
Edmonton looked to be in control after scoring four straight goals, but Panthers forward Sam Reinhart forced overtime with 20 seconds left. Draisaitl had the last laugh with the winner in the extra frame.
The Oilers will have only one day to catch their breath from their incredible rally before the attention turns to Game 5 on Saturday.
"Games like that, it's exhausting," Knoblauch said. "It's a roller coaster. For me, I do appreciate the level of hockey. ... Obviously, with what's on the line, it's stressful. But it's fun."
Knoblauch said Friday that he wouldn't name his starting goalie for Game 5 just yet, per NHL.com's Tracey Myers.
