With over a day to go before a pivotal Game 6 in the 2025 Stanley Cup Final, all eyes are on one storyline: who will start in goal for the Edmonton Oilers? The ongoing goaltending dilemma has pushed the team to the brink, and head coach Kris Knoblauch is under growing pressure—from fans, media, and analysts alike. Still, no matter how things unfold in Game 6, the responsibility won’t fall on Knoblauch alone.
The decision comes amid a wave of criticism from across the hockey world. TSN analysts have repeatedly spotlighted Edmonton’s sluggish starts and even questioned if Knoblauch had “lost the room” following his lineup shuffles. The goalie carousel, in particular, has been a lightning rod. TSN panels and radio pundits have zeroed in on the lack of consistency in the crease as a defining issue in the series.
After Game 5, Knoblauch’s postgame defense of Calvin Pickard—saying, “There’s no fault at Calvin at all”—didn’t land well with commentators, many of whom saw it as a flimsy excuse. International coverage also picked up on the intensifying scrutiny from Canadian media, suggesting the country’s deep hockey passion was now turning into criticism for its own Cup hopeful. As Leon Draisaitl admitted, the pressure in a hockey-obsessed nation is relentless—and Knoblauch has become the target of frustration over every goalie decision and sluggish start.
The choice between Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard remains up in the air. Knoblauch hasn’t revealed his decision, and it appears it will go down to the wire. In a Zoom call with reporters after Game 5, Knoblauch explained the process behind the choice. According to him, the call won’t be made in isolation—it’ll involve input from the entire coaching staff, including goaltending coach Dustin Schwartz, the assistants, and the general manager.
It’s a major decision with enormous stakes—and Knoblauch acknowledged the difficulty. But he also expressed faith in his goalies, insisting the dilemma isn’t due to poor play, but rather because both have shown they can rise to the occasion. “We’ve got two goalies who have proven they can play extremely well and win games. We believe that either one can get the job done,” he said.
That optimism may surprise some. In Game 4, Pickard stopped 22 of 23 shots for a .957 save percentage. Skinner, while shaky in the Finals, had a solid Game 1 (.906 save percentage on 32 shots). And his performance in the Western Conference Final was stellar—posting shutouts and near-shutouts in multiple games, including a .971 mark in Game 3 and .966 in Game 4 against Dallas.
But the offense also bears responsibility. When asked by NHL.com’s Tracey Myers how much a strong start would help his goalie, Knoblauch agreed completely: “It’s tough when a goalie’s playing from behind… It’d be nice to get some goal support.” The Oilers have routinely started slow, allowing the Panthers to dictate the game early with intensity, physicality, and aggressive forechecking—even from their bottom lines.
In contrast, Edmonton’s top stars haven’t delivered. Evander Kane and Evan Bouchard have underperformed. Connor McDavid has been kept quiet. In multiple games, the Panthers jumped out to early leads—up 2-0 in Game 2 after one period, and 3-0 in Game 3 within 20 minutes. In Game 5, the Oilers couldn’t score through two periods and trailed 3-0.
Knoblauch said the final score in Game 5 didn’t reflect Pickard’s effort, insisting the Panthers simply executed at a high level. “I thought we limited their chances well. The goals they scored weren’t Calvin’s fault,” he said.
Debate Point:
Can Kris Knoblauch’s goalie gamble turn the tide in Game 6, or is it setting up a collapse?
With two shaky goalies and an offense struggling to start strong, Knoblauch’s challenge is monumental—but not insurmountable. The Oilers need more than just a good goaltending decision. They need a full-team reset.
Instead, Kris Knoblauch is counting on stars like Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl to finally make their presence felt in the 2025 Stanley Cup Final. “It’d be nice to have a lead and play with that cushion, knowing the opponent has to open things up when they’re behind,” the coach said. Time will tell if the Oilers can deliver on his hopes.
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