Oilers pull Stuart Skinner after disappointing Game 3 performance

The Edmonton Oilers wouldn't be in the Stanley Cup Final if it weren't for Stuart Skinner. Skinner lost his starting job early in the postseason, but after Calvin Pickard suffered an injury, Skinner returned to the net. The time off served him well, as he looked like a different goaltender ever since. However, the old Skinner returned for the Oilers in Game 3. 

The Florida Panthers jumped out to an early lead when Brad Marchand scored 56 seconds into the first period. They extended the lead to 2-0 in the first period, then put the Oilers into a 5-1 deficit at the beginning of the third period. After allowing five goals on 23 shots, head coach Kris Knoblauch pulled Skinner in favor of Pickard. 

It's an alarming trend for Skinner, as he allowed 13 goals through the first three games of this series. He allowed only 10 in five games against the Dallas Stars in the Western Conference Final. 

Skinner will likely get the start again in Game 4, but it's a trend that Knoblauch will have to monitor. Pickard won six consecutive games after Skinner lost the net two games into the postseason, and the Oilers will need another winning streak like that if they fail to rebound in the next game.

It isn't a bad thing for the Oilers to have a backup they can trust. However, if they go into a 3-1 hole against the Panthers, it'll be a tough road to avenging last year's loss and winning the Stanley Cup.