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‘I wasn’t expecting anyone to go fists with him’: Lack of response to Nikita Zadorov hit no concern for Oilers’ Stuart Skinner
Edmonton Oilers Stuart Skinner
Photo credit: Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images
Zach Laing
Jan 8, 2025, 11:30 ESTUpdated: Jan 8, 2025, 14:45 EST
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The first reaction many had to Nikita Zadorov’s crushing hit on Stuart Skinner Tuesday night was dismay.
And understandably so, as years ago something like that would’ve resulted in a full-on melee.
Zadorov has made himself public enemy number one in Edmonton more than once before, and while Skinner lay face-down on the ice, there wasn’t so much as a peep from any of the Oilers on the ice.
But Skinner himself wasn’t concerned.
“I can only speak for myself, I wasn’t too worried about it. He’s also eight feet tall, so I wasn’t expecting anyone to go fists with him,” he said with a smile.
The hit itself happened with five and a half minutes left in the first period, as Zadorov carried the puck into the offensive zone. The six-foot-six tall, not quite eight-feet tall, blue liner drove wide and toward the net, right into and through Skinner, who sprawled to the ice in a heap.
There was no response from the Oilers, but that shouldn’t be a surprise. Players have said that an emotional response from the team isn’t what they always need in situations like these.
The messaging is “We’ll beat them on the scoresheet” — and that’s exactly what the Oilers did en route to a 4-0 win.
And on that note, Edmonton wound up with a power play from it, as Zadorov got called for goaltender interference, with his claims of Brett Kulak having pushed him not being heard by the referees. In that situation, had there been a 10-player pile-up, the Oilers may not have gotten so lucky.
Skinner and the Oilers did get lucky, though, as while he would leave the game, he would return soon after as concussion spotters pulled him from the game.
“They called down and honestly, it’s a smart call. He got me pretty good,” said Skinner with a smirk after the game, no worse for wear. “I think that’s like the fifth hit I’ve got this year.”
Zadorov would apologize for the hit in the second period, Skinner added. No hard feelings.
Moments like that are tense for many, and maybe none more than for head coach Kris Knoblauch, who had to call Calvin Pickard into play for the final five of the first.
“Just that I hope he was okay,” said Knoblauch, describing his first thought. “That was quite a hit, and it’s difficult. I thought the referees made the right call and (Skinner) felt alright, and then it was just manditory that the spotters take him out, and check him out, but he was fine, which was nice to know.”
Zach Laing is Oilersnation’s associate editor, and senior columnist, and The Nation Network’s news director. He also makes up one-half of the DFO DFS Report. He can be followed on Twitter, currently known as X, at @zjlaing, or reached by email at zach@thenationnetwork.com.

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