The Penguins are heading to Edmonton for a Thursday night clash with the Oilers, and while the game carries plenty of weight in the standings, there’s also a compelling personal storyline that won’t play out quite the way fans might’ve hoped. Goaltender Stuart Skinner, now with Pittsburgh after a midseason trade that sent Tristan Jarry to Edmonton, is returning to Rogers Place-but it looks like he’ll be watching this one from the bench.
Skinner spent six seasons with the Oilers, carving out a reputation as a steady presence in net. His first game in a Penguins sweater?
Ironically, it came against his former team-and it didn’t go as planned. Skinner gave up six goals on 22 shots in that outing, and the Oilers came away with a 6-4 win.
But since that rocky debut, Skinner has turned things around in a big way.
Take away those first two starts, and the 27-year-old has been lights out. He’s gone 6-1-0, allowed just 11 goals over that stretch, and posted a 1.57 goals-against average with a .931 save percentage. That’s the kind of performance that makes you think he’s settling into his new home-and doing it fast.
Still, despite the intrigue of a potential revenge game against his old squad, Skinner isn’t expected to get the nod on Thursday. He just played Wednesday night in a 4-1 win over the Flames, and with the back-to-back setup, all signs point to him getting a rest. It's a bit of a letdown for anyone hoping to see him go head-to-head with his former teammates, but the Penguins are clearly managing his workload with the long game in mind.
Skinner has shown he can be a difference-maker between the pipes. He posted a career-best .914 save percentage during the 2022-23 season and, while this year started unevenly-he’s currently sitting at 16-12-4 with a 2.73 GAA and a .893 save percentage-his recent stretch suggests he’s trending in the right direction.
On the other side of the trade, Jarry has been solid in his new colors. Since joining Edmonton, he’s put together a 4-1-1 record with a 2.48 GAA and a .904 save percentage. It’s still early, but both teams seem to be getting what they hoped for out of the goalie swap.
Thursday night’s game may not feature the goalie duel fans were hoping for, but there’s still plenty to watch. Skinner won’t be in the crease, but his presence looms large-and if his recent form is any indication, the Penguins have found a netminder who’s ready to make a serious impact down the stretch.