Stuart Skinner is on an unreal run right now with the Pittsburgh Penguins. He’ll start again tonight against the New York Islanders. If he wins, it will be his sixth straight. Six wins in a row isn’t at all bad for a young goalie who took years of heat about being “inconsistent” in Edmonton.
This version of Skinner? It seems as if he’s almost a completely different player.
Looking at Skinner’s Last Nine Games: Why So Good?
In his last nine games, he’s played lights-out hockey. His record is 8-1-0. He’s put up a tidy 2.01 GAA and a .917 save percentage. Those aren’t “holding down the fort” numbers. That’s a goalie yanking games into the win column by himself. So, of course, it raises the obvious question: Why now? And why Pittsburgh?
A few things make sense. First, the fresh start probably did him a world of good. Playing at home sounds fun until every second person in the city has an opinion on your glove hand. Edmonton’s an amazing hockey town. Still, for a hometown kid, it might have been a lot of pressure to carry.
Pittsburgh wants a good team, but the fanbase doesn’t smother its goalies the way Edmonton might. That kind of breathing room matters.
Second, the Penguins’ structure actually seems to fit his style of play. The Oilers score tons, but defending hasn’t always been their thing. Skinner dealt with wave after wave of high-danger chances, and even the best guys wear down. Pittsburgh’s a little steadier—more layers, fewer wild scrambles, cleaner reads. Sometimes a goalie just needs to feel like he’s not dodging lasers all night.
Could This Skinner Have Emerged in Edmonton?
The context also matters. Having Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin playing in front of you could spread a different kind of calm. Those guys set the professional tone every day, and right now Malkin’s buzzing too—eight points in six games. Confidence like that spreads fast.
Also, goalies are what they are. Half the position is vibes and timing. One small tweak, one good run, one coach who says something that clicks. Then, suddenly, the puck looks huge, and you’re unstoppable.
Could this have happened in Edmonton? Maybe. But he never really had this mix: less noise, a cleaner system, and a chance to hit reset without the weight of being “the hometown guy.” Sometimes a change of scenery is all it takes.
Either way, it’s refreshing to see him playing so darn well. Having watched Skinner since he was a young goalie, it’s hard not to pull for him. He’s one of the good guys.
Related: Might Jarry’s Comments Lead to a Trade Between Oilers and Maple Leafs?
