The Edmonton Oilers will face the Seattle Kraken tonight with a significant change to their roster, as goaltender Stuart Skinner is absent to welcome his second child. His wife, Chloe, gave birth today, prompting the team to adjust their lineup accordingly.
The Oilers announced via their official Twitter account, "Congratulations to Stuart & Chloe Skinner on the birth of their baby boy!". According to reports, Skinner and his wife have been at the hospital since last night, marking this joyous occasion for the family.
With Skinner out, the Oilers have called upon Tyler Palmer, goaltender for the University of Alberta Golden Bears, to serve as the emergency backup goalie for tonight's matchup. Palmer, 21, is currently enjoying his first year with the Golden Bears after previously playing three seasons in the Western Hockey League (WHL). He brings with him impressive statistics, holding the fourth-lowest goals against average (GAA) at 2.08 and the tenth-highest save percentage at .916 among USports players.
Skinner's absence puts Calvin Pickard, who will start as the primary goaltender, under the spotlight. With the Oilers gunning for their eighth consecutive victory over the Kraken, the performance from Pickard will be closely watched.
This situation is reminiscent of two years ago, when on January 28, 2023, the Oilers utilized another emergency backup goaltender, Matt Berlin, who made history by stopping the only shot he faced, leading to his own 1.000 save percentage. The Oilers clearly understand how to adjust their game plans on the fly.
Head Coach Kris Knoblauch is adapting the lineup with multiple key players missing practice. Besides Skinner, defenseman Darnell Nurse was absent due to illness, and John Klingberg faced delays from immigration issues. Nurse is expected to be ready for the game, but Klingberg may not debut until next week.
Skinner’s commitment to being present for the birth is being praised, as he previously discussed how missing the selection for Team Canada at the junior level allowed him to spend time with his family. He viewed his lack of selection as “a blessing in disguise,” stating, "It’ll be nice to be a father to a newborn baby for a little bit."
This incident showcases the Oilers' ability to adapt quickly to unforeseen circumstances, still managing to contend aggressively. Alongside Connor McDavid's return from suspension, the lineup's adjustments may present challenges but are also opportunities for new performers to shine.
The game against the Kraken gets underway at 7:30 MT, and with plenty of eyes on the ice for this matchup, fans are eager to see how the Oilers will fill the gap left by Skinner's absence.