Sometimes, all it takes is a fresh start.
For Artūrs Šilovs and Stuart Skinner, a change of scenery has made all the difference. Once seen as expendable by the teams that drafted them-the Canucks and Oilers, respectively-both goalies have landed in Pittsburgh, where they’ve quickly become one of the NHL’s most reliable tandems between the pipes.
Šilovs arrived in the Steel City over the summer, while Skinner joined him just last month. But in the short time they’ve shared the Penguins’ crease, the results have been nothing short of impressive.
Since December 30, Skinner has been dialed in. He’s posted a 6-1-0 record with a .933 save percentage, and his 1.58 goals-against average ranks among the league’s best over that stretch.
Šilovs, meanwhile, has quietly held his own, with just one regulation loss in his last five starts. Together, they’ve helped fuel a red-hot run for the Penguins, who are 9-2-2 since Christmas and lead the NHL in goals against per game during that span (2.08).
That’s not just a midseason boost-it’s a full-on transformation in net.
For Pittsburgh, this duo has brought stability and confidence to a position that had been a question mark. But for fans in Vancouver and Edmonton, the success of their former goalies tells a more complicated story.
In Vancouver, Šilovs’ resurgence comes at a time when the Canucks could really use a dependable option in goal. Thatcher Demko has struggled to stay healthy, and the rotating cast of Kevin Lankinen, Nikita Tolopilo, and Jiri Patera hasn’t provided much consistency in his absence. Watching Šilovs thrive in black and gold has to sting just a bit, especially knowing he was once seen as a potential part of the Canucks’ future.
The situation in Edmonton is a little different. While Skinner’s bounce-back performance in Pittsburgh might raise some eyebrows, the Oilers’ crease hasn’t exactly fallen apart without him.
Tristin Jarry has stepped in with a solid 4-1-1 record, and Connor Ingram has been a steady presence with a .917 save percentage through nine games. So while some fans might feel a twinge of regret, there’s also a sense of satisfaction in seeing a hometown player like Skinner find his footing elsewhere.
For the Penguins, it’s a win-win. They’ve managed to shore up a key position with two goalies who were written off elsewhere-and they did it without breaking the bank. It’s still early, but if this tandem keeps up its current pace, we might be looking at one of the savviest goaltending moves of the season.
Šilovs and Skinner aren’t just surviving in Pittsburgh-they’re thriving. And in a league where goaltending can make or break a playoff run, that’s a storyline worth watching closely.