Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch pointed to Connor McDavid as the best player on the ice following Edmonton's Western Conference Final-clinching victory in Game 6 Sunday, but it appears the captain would disagree.
Despite McDavid leading the postseason in scoring with 31 points, the Oilers superstar credited goaltender Stuart Skinner for sending Edmonton to its first Stanley Cup Final since 2006.
"Can't say enough good things. I think (Skinner) learned a lot from last year's playoffs, and he's putting it to good use," McDavid said postgame. "A lot of people doubt him, a lot of people say things about him. He's an elite goaltender - he really is. He was so good for us all series long, gave us a chance every single night. Tonight, he absolutely stole one for us."
Skinner made 34 saves in Sunday's 2-1 victory, securing the win for the Oilers even though the Dallas Stars outshot them 35-10 in the contest.
"He was unbelievable tonight," McDavid added. "We're not sitting up here talking about a win if it wasn't for him. We're on a plane to Dallas if it wasn't for Stu."
Skinner finished the Western Conference Final series with a .923 save percentage. However, it hasn't been the smoothest playoffs for the netminder, who Edmonton benched in favor of Calvin Pickard for two games in Round 2 against the Vancouver Canucks. Skinner has compiled a .897 save percentage in 16 postseason games this year.
Ups and downs also filled Skinner's 2023-24 regular season. He was partially to blame for the Oilers' slow start, posting an abysmal .854 save percentage in the campaign's first eight games. Skinner recorded a .913 mark over his final 51 contests.
For Skinner, an Edmonton native, stepping up and leading the Oilers to a Stanley Cup Final is a dream come true.
"Moments like this, it's really hard to say. It's very cool. It's a lot more than cool, but it's very exciting," Skinner said, adding he idolized Dwayne Roloson growing up.
Skinner has been a critical piece to Edmonton's play while down a man. The Oilers have killed 28 straight penalties - six back of tying the St. Louis Blues' Stanley Cup Playoff record. Dallas didn't score a power-play goal all series.
Skinner acknowledged his teammates for the club's success.
"The commitment to blocking shots at the right times, guys are doing absolutely everything that we possibly can to get the puck out," Skinner said. "Being able to grind in the corners. It truly is just the little things that the guys really focused on. That was a huge difference."
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