The Edmonton Oilers turned back to goaltender Stuart Skinner for Game 5 of their first-round series against the Los Angeles Kings on Tuesday.
Head coach Jay Woodcroft showed faith in Skinner after pulling him in Game 4. Skinner, 24, allowed three goals on 11 shots in the first period of Sunday's contest before exiting. Jack Campbell replaced Skinner and stopped all but one of 28 shots as the Oilers rallied for a 5-4 overtime win to even the series at two games apiece.
Skinner outplayed Campbell to leapfrog the 31-year-old as Edmonton's No. 1 netminder over the latter half of the season. The Oilers signed Campbell to a five-year, $25-million contract in free agency last July.
Skinner was 1-2 with an .881 save percentage in four postseason games this spring prior to Tuesday's contest, while Campbell's relief appearance in Sunday's game marked his first playoff action with Edmonton.
Skinner went 29-14-5 with a .913 save percentage over 50 games during the regular season, which was his official rookie campaign. He suited up for 13 games with the Oilers in 2021-22, making his NHL debut in January 2021. Edmonton drafted him 78th overall in 2017.
Campbell went 21-9-4 in 2022-23 but posted an .888 save percentage in 36 appearances. Drafted 11th overall by the Dallas Stars in 2010, he's also spent time with the Kings and the Toronto Maple Leafs.
