The sky is falling in Oil Country.
The L.A. Kings hammered the Oilers by a score of 6-2 in Game 2 on Wednesday, giving them a 2-0 lead in this first-round series.
Front and centre in this loss was Stuart Skinner, who was pulled during the third period after allowing five goals on 28 shots. The Edmonton native has an .810 save percentage through the first two games of the playoffs.
Fans took to social media during and after the game to vent their frustration about the team’s goaltending.
“Stuart Skinner is currently playing in his 36th career playoff game. In those 36 games, this is his NINETEENTH time recording a sub .900 sv%, THIRETEEN time recording a sub .850. This is not a small sample size anymore.” – 2003nicko via X.
“One positive here is if the Oilers lose this series, Bowman has no choice but to upgrade the goaltending in the off-season. The Skinner 1A experiment is over. With McDavid’s contract expiring next season, the pressure will be on Bowman to get a seriously big upgrade.” – rbrodeur88 via X.
“Kings needed a goalie – get one. Avs needed a goalie – get one. Devils needed a goalie – get one. Oilers needed a goalie – nah, we good bro. What a f***ing waste of McDavid and Draisaitl prime years. Great job.” – TheRealPatMcFee via X.
“Chanting ‘Skinner’ when Pickard’s the one in net now is just embarrassing, bye.” – Nuggyyybabyyy via X.
“Ordered a number 74 Kunlun Red Star jersey.” via Instagram.
“Skinner couldn’t catch a beachball if he had to… the man is Swiss cheese, full of holes.” – Lauren via Facebook.
“Newsflash. Oilers would be better off with me in net. I’m a 57 year old beer league goalie!!!” – Kelly via Facebook.
Fans have directed their frustration mostly at Skinner through the first two games of the series. However, upper management has also been getting its share of the blame, even Kris Knoblauch’s lineup decisions.
“Blame Stan Bowman for not making a play for another goalie stating Skinner is more than capable.” – Erwin on Facebook.
“Knobs = worst coach of the year. Skinner is better than half our players yet he gets benched. Nuge is done. Guy can play 4th line or not play at all. Brutal. Missing Hollywood, Broberg and others that made a huge impact last year. Goalies suck too. Any time LA gets close to the nets it’s almost gauranteed a goal.” – Joseph on Facebook.
“Oilers are getting out-goalie’d , out-played, out-smarted, out-coached and this series will be lucky to go five if this continues. The summer of Jeff Jackson turned out to be a disaster and Bowman’s trade deadline is a close 2nd. Oilers are a mess.” – Trent Wilhauk via X.
“Series giving me the Oilers vs Blackhawks series during Covid vibe. Knoblauch especially getting outcoached and has no clear plan for the team whatsoever.” – David___Co via X.
“Stan Bowman and Jeff Jackson disaster class ruining this team in 1 offseason. We really can’t have shit in this fanbase. 10 years of darkness just for a heartbreaking cup loss and then right back to being awful. So awesome.” – Toughcookie9000 on Instagram.
“I’m so frustrated with Bowman and knobs. Both of them had tunnel vision when it came to Skinner!!” – Jaime_Ramos on Instagram.
One moment in particular stood out to many fans as frustrating during Wednesday’s loss. Stuart Skinner was spotted smiling after he made an easy save and the Los Angeles crowd jeered him with a “Skinner” chant.
“Nurse should have told him to take that smile off his face.” – Caron02 via X.
“Seems to be a lack focus. He’s not blocking it out. Should be dialed in.” – gdawg4054 via X.
“This was the strangest part of the whole night. There is nothing to smile about at that stage of the game.” – Brettzky90 via X.
“It was a bad image. No matter what the reasons were. I feel for Stu, mentally its tough but you don’t show those when the team is going to an 0-2 series hole.” – Almar Reyes via X.
I will admit that Skinner’s reaction puzzled me, considering the state of the Oilers at that moment. However, Kevin McCurdy on X offered a different perspective, which I felt needed to be shared.
“Woz, you and I see eye to eye on a lot of stuff, I think I might have a different take on this one. Skinner is doing a delayed overacted windmill and having a laugh about it here in the face of some of the most ridiculous crowd jeering I’ve ever heard. I would frankly rather see this response then having a mental breakdown live on ice like Campbell did once or twice. If you had 18000 people mocking you you can either laugh with/at yourself, or you can crack under that pressure (unless your name is Ed Belfour). I don’t have a lot of issue with the giggle, despite the seriousness of the situation.”
After Skinner was pulled and Calvin Pickard came into the net, Kings fans chanted, “We Want Skinner.”
It certainly does feel bleak around Oilersnation. We all know the motto, Hope Will Never Die and some fans still believe this team can turn it around, that it’s not a series until you lose at home.
The Edmonton Oilers are aiming to achieve something the franchise hasn’t done since 2006 against San Jose: Coming back to win a series after falling down 2-0.