NHL Player News

  • Oilers' Calvin Pickard: Facing Panthers in Game 5

    Pickard will patrol the home crease in Game 5 against Florida on Saturday, according to Oilers play-by-play announcer Jack Michaels.

    Pickard has posted a 7-0 record with a 2.69 GAA and an .896 save percentage through nine outings this postseason. He has made two straight relief appearances, stopping 29 of 31 shots. After Stuart Skinner got the hook in Game 4 on Thursday, Pickard made 22 saves on 23 shots in a 5-4 overtime victory. With the best-of-seven series tied at 2-2, the winner of Game 5 will hold a substantial advantage in the battle for the Stanley Cup.

  • Panthers' Sergei Bobrovsky: Squanders good start

    Bobrovsky allowed five goals on 35 shots in Thursday's 5-4 overtime loss to the Oilers in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Finals.

    Bobrovsky was spotted a 3-0 lead after one period, but it was gone by the second intermission. A bad bounce after a strong individual effort by Leon Draisaitl in overtime was the difference, with Bobrovsky taking his first loss since Game 1 of the series. He's allowed 14 goals on 160 shots against the Oilers, good for a .913 save percentage. Despite this missed opportunity to take a commanding series lead, Bobrovsky is a virtual lock to start in Game 5 on Saturday in Edmonton.

  • Oilers' Calvin Pickard: Backstops comeback win

    Pickard stopped 22 of 23 shots in relief of Stuart Skinner in Thursday's 5-4 overtime win over the Panthers in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Finals.

    Pickard has made relief appearances in two consecutive games, as Skinner's performance has dropped significantly against the Panthers. Head coach Kris Knoblauch's call to switch goalies at the start of the second period paid off Thursday, with Pickard providing stability between the pipes as the Oilers pulled off a comeback win to tie the series at 2-2. Pickard is 7-0 over nine appearances this postseason while allowing 21 goals on 201 shots for an .896 save percentage. With things trending in Pickard's direction, it wouldn't be a surprise to see the 33-year-old between the pipes for Game 5 in Edmonton on Saturday.

  • Oilers' Stuart Skinner: Pulled again in Game 4

    Skinner allowed three goals on 17 shots in the first period of Thursday's 5-4 overtime win over the Panthers in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Finals.

    Skinner was the only reason the Oilers were down 3-0 after the opening frame -- it could have been much worse. Nonetheless, head coach Kris Knoblauch elected to pull Skinner for the second game in a row, and Calvin Pickard was between the pipes for the Oilers' comeback. With three straight subpar efforts, it would be surprising to see Skinner between the pipes on home ice in Game 5 on Saturday, especially after Pickard stopped 22 of 23 shots Thursday.

  • Panthers' Sergei Bobrovsky: Starting Game 4

    Bobrovsky will protect the home goal Thursday versus the Oilers in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Finals, Stephen Whyno of the Associated Press reports.

    Bobrovsky will get the start after delivering a 32-save effort in a 6-1 win in Game 3. He's allowed nine goals on 125 shots (.928 save percentage) in this series so far, but he's largely been up to the challenge of the Oilers' high-powered offense.

  • Oilers' Stuart Skinner: Starting Game 4

    Skinner will defend the visiting cage in Florida for Thursday's Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Finals, according to Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet.

    Skinner has been outstanding in the Edmonton net, as he was 7-2 with a 1.83 GAA and a .929 save percentage before Monday's 6-1 shellacking against the Panthers. He was less than ordinary in Monday's tilt, allowing five goals on 23 shots before he was pulled in favor of Calvin Pickard. Skinner will get a chance to redeem himself Thursday against a Florida team that is generating 4.00 goals per game during the playoffs.

  • Stars' Magnus Hellberg: Signs with Swedish club

    Hellberg agreed to terms on a three-year contract with Djurgardens IF on Thursday.

    Hellberg spent the 2024-25 campaign with AHL Texas, logging 41 regular-season games for the minor-league club in which he posted a 24-14-1 record, .904 save percentage and 2.69 GAA. Despite the solid numbers, Hellberg was on the NHL roster for just one game this past year as he was firmly cemented behind Casey DeSmith as the No. 3 netminder. Given the length of his deal, this move all but spells the end of Hellberg's NHL career, with the Swedish backstop set to eventually retire having played in 26 NHL games for the Predators, Rangers, Red Wings, Senators and Penguins.

  • Panthers' Sergei Bobrovsky: Sharp in Game 3 win

    Bobrovsky made 32 saves Monday in the Panthers' 6-1 win over the Oilers in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Finals.

    Corey Perry spoiled his shutout bid with a power-play tally early in the second period, but otherwise Bobrovsky was firmly in control after being staked to an early lead. The veteran netminder sports a 2.37 GAA and a .928 save percentage through the first three games of the series, and having Bobrovsky in the crease appears to be Florida's biggest edge heading into Game 4 on Thursday.

  • Oilers' Calvin Pickard: Needed in relief Monday

    Pickard turned aside seven of the eight shots he faced Monday after replacing Stuart Skinner early in the third period of the Oilers' 6-1 loss to the Panthers in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Finals.

    The game was well out of hand by the time Pickard was brought off the bench, and the one puck to get past him came with Edmonton shorthanded once again -- the third Panthers' power-play tally of the night. Skinner is wilting in the spotlight, posting an .866 save percentage through the first three games of the series, so head coach Kris Knoblauch may have a difficult choice to make when he names his starter for Game 4 on Thursday.

  • Oilers' Stuart Skinner: Gets hook in Game 3

    Skinner stopped 18 of 23 shots Monday before being replaced by Calvin Pickard early in the third period of the Oilers' 6-1 loss to the Panthers in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Finals.

    The netminder got caught out of his crease trying to find a loose puck in a scrum, leading to a Brad Marchand tally just 56 seconds into the first period. While Skinner wasn't at fault for any of the remaining goals he allowed -- two of which came on power plays, and one on a two-on-nothing breakaway finished off by Sam Bennett -- the early miscue set the tone for the night. Skinner has coughed up five goals in back-to-back starts and 13 total on 97 shots (.866 save percentage) through the first three games of the series. Head coach Kris Knoblauch may have a tough choice to make when he names his starter for Game 4 on Thursday.

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