It didn’t take long for the pitchforks to come out for Stuart Skinner as Oilers fans were left frustrated once again by a season opener. It looked like everything was swimmingly for the Oilers as they carved out a 3-0 lead, then the Calgary Flames mounted a comeback.

The third goal, in particular, left Oilers fans screaming “get a goalie” for the millionth time in the past 365 days. Skinner and Evan Bouchard had a communication error, which led to Edmonton&#8217;s goalie misplaying the puck and allowing Calgary forward Blake Coleman to poke it behind him and tie the game at 3-3.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
BLAKE COLEMAN HOPS ON THE LOOSE PUCK AND WE&#39;RE TIED IN EDMONTON! 🥵 <a href="https://t.co/64YoZGz5GP">pic.twitter.com/64YoZGz5GP</a>
&mdash; Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) <a href="https://twitter.com/Sportsnet/status/1976139405698941300?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 9, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
With that said, fans were quick to react to the sequence of events online.
<blockquote>“So Skinner… Last night the first two goals on Skinner were just bad-luck goals. The third goal, yes he needs to be smarter with the puck in that situation. Sadly with Skinner’s history, bad-luck goals happen to him often. I do wonder if the Oilers will be goalie shopping by November? Let’s hope not! But maybe a change would be good for Skinner &amp; the Oilers? The NY road trip will say a lot IMO… time will tell.” — Trent Wilhuak via X</blockquote>
<blockquote>“Blowing a three-goal lead off of three weird goals… Yeah. We are so back.” — Leashadawg via X</blockquote>
<blockquote>“Pickard for the next five games please.” — Shae_Nuge93 via X</blockquote>
<blockquote>“Welcome to Edmonton, Connor Ingram!” — CPFCDoyle via X</blockquote>
<blockquote>“Everyone needs to calm down. A pure luck goal, a goal that was a high stick and should have never been allowed, and a blunder by the defenseman. Only the third he had a chance at saving. Such a toxic fan base we have.” — Lawrence Wood via X</blockquote>
<blockquote>“We gotta trade Skinner, this is too much man. I can’t defend this man anymore.” — Pride Mwenga via X</blockquote>
<blockquote>“Fire Skinner into the sun.” — Schmiddy the GOAT via X</blockquote>
<blockquote>“New year, same Skinner.” — Brodeur via X</blockquote>
<blockquote>“I don’t think it’s hyperbole to say the Oilers are a goalie away.” — Spud McKenzie via X</blockquote>
There was definitely little love for the Oilers’ netminder after last night’s loss to the Flames. The sentiment online was that the first two goals were a tad lucky; it was the third one that sent the game to overtime—and eventually the shootout—which really had hordes of fans aggravated. Even when others tried to defend Skinner, it was met with pushback and vitriol from those who desperately want the Oilers to fix their goaltending.
<blockquote>“The only team that can beat the Oiler are the Oilers.” — tylerfcknalton via Instagram</blockquote>
<blockquote>“All three of their goals were flukes. One of them was a high stick, too.” — pmboii via Instagram</blockquote>
<blockquote>“Man, what a performance honestly, except for one person.” — alexbenoit_14 via Instagram</blockquote>
<blockquote>“Objectively better than last year’s opener.” — jay_vayeh via Instagram</blockquote>
<blockquote>“Calgary had three of the luckiest goals you can score in a game!!! Horrific shootout, too.” — jariuswiebe via Instagram</blockquote>
<blockquote>“Won’t be a fun season if Skinner keeps going the way he did last night.” — Stefan Nagy via Facebook</blockquote>
<blockquote>“I am definitely NOT a Skinner hater. But last night’s game was very, VERY disappointing. That was two points that should have been in the bag. Overtime NEVER should have happened. He made some great saves in OT and in the shootout… but if you want to know which team’s goaltender played the better game, it wasn’t even that close.” — Craig Hall via Facebook</blockquote>
<blockquote>“The immediate and painful reminder that all our fears are still legitimate: we cannot win a Cup with Skinner.” — Matthew B. Jorge via Facebook</blockquote>
<blockquote>“Everyone blaming Skinner needs to give their head a shake. He played a good game. First goal was a fluke, second goal should have been called off, but that was a turnover from Nurse (shocker). Third one, okay, he can take the blame for that. He went eight rounds in the shootout. The team went to sleep during the second period; it’s a group effort.” — jr3id__ via Instagram</blockquote>
It’s nice to hear that not all of the fan base is throwing all the heat toward Stuart Skinner and understands that not every goal is his fault. It’s also fair to be frustrated with his performance in that game. Everyone is entitled to their opinions, and currently, a vocal portion of the fan base lacks confidence in Stuart Skinner.
Skinner himself told reporters after Wednesday&#8217;s loss to Calgary that he&#8217;ll be putting the gaffe behind him and moving forward with his season.
<blockquote>&#8220;I won&#8217;t be thinking about it, no,&#8221; Skinner said, per <a href="https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/skinner-fails-first-chance-to-show-oilers-he-can-be-trusted/">Sportsnet&#8217;s Mark Spector</a>. “It happens. It’s probably the easiest fix I’ll make this year. A quick decision, throw it in the corner, that’s that.&#8221;</blockquote>
The Oilers will be back in action on Saturday when they host the Vancouver Canucks. Will Skinner be back in the net for his second start, or will Edmonton&#8217;s coaching staff give backup Calvin Pickard the nod?

It didn’t take long for the pitchforks to come out for Stuart Skinner as Oilers fans were left frustrated once again by a season opener. It looked like everything was swimmingly for the Oilers as they carved out a 3-0 lead, then the Calgary Flames mounted a comeback.



The third goal, in particular, left Oilers fans screaming “get a goalie” for the millionth time in the past 365 days. Skinner and Evan Bouchard had a communication error, which led to Edmonton's goalie misplaying the puck and allowing Calgary forward Blake Coleman to poke it behind him and tie the game at 3-3.

https://twitter.com/Sportsnet/status/1976139405698941300

With that said, fans were quick to react to the sequence of events online.
<blockquote>“So Skinner… Last night the first two goals on Skinner were just bad-luck goals. The third goal, yes he needs to be smarter with the puck in that situation. Sadly with Skinner’s history, bad-luck goals happen to him often. I do wonder if the Oilers will be goalie shopping by November? Let’s hope not! But maybe a change would be good for Skinner &amp; the Oilers? The NY road trip will say a lot IMO… time will tell.” — Trent Wilhuak via X</blockquote>
<blockquote>“Blowing a three-goal lead off of three weird goals… Yeah. We are so back.” — Leashadawg via X</blockquote>
<blockquote>“Pickard for the next five games please.” — Shae_Nuge93 via X</blockquote>
<blockquote>“Welcome to Edmonton, Connor Ingram!” — CPFCDoyle via X</blockquote>
<blockquote>“Everyone needs to calm down. A pure luck goal, a goal that was a high stick and should have never been allowed, and a blunder by the defenseman. Only the third he had a chance at saving. Such a toxic fan base we have.” — Lawrence Wood via X</blockquote>
<blockquote>“We gotta trade Skinner, this is too much man. I can’t defend this man anymore.” — Pride Mwenga via X</blockquote>
<blockquote>“Fire Skinner into the sun.” — Schmiddy the GOAT via X</blockquote>
<blockquote>“New year, same Skinner.” — Brodeur via X</blockquote>
<blockquote>“I don’t think it’s hyperbole to say the Oilers are a goalie away.” — Spud McKenzie via X</blockquote>
There was definitely little love for the Oilers’ netminder after last night’s loss to the Flames. The sentiment online was that the first two goals were a tad lucky; it was the third one that sent the game to overtime—and eventually the shootout—which really had hordes of fans aggravated. Even when others tried to defend Skinner, it was met with pushback and vitriol from those who desperately want the Oilers to fix their goaltending.
<blockquote>“The only team that can beat the Oiler are the Oilers.” — tylerfcknalton via Instagram</blockquote>
<blockquote>“All three of their goals were flukes. One of them was a high stick, too.” — pmboii via Instagram</blockquote>
<blockquote>“Man, what a performance honestly, except for one person.” — alexbenoit_14 via Instagram</blockquote>
<blockquote>“Objectively better than last year’s opener.” — jay_vayeh via Instagram</blockquote>
<blockquote>“Calgary had three of the luckiest goals you can score in a game!!! Horrific shootout, too.” — jariuswiebe via Instagram</blockquote>
<blockquote>“Won’t be a fun season if Skinner keeps going the way he did last night.” — Stefan Nagy via Facebook</blockquote>
<blockquote>“I am definitely NOT a Skinner hater. But last night’s game was very, VERY disappointing. That was two points that should have been in the bag. Overtime NEVER should have happened. He made some great saves in OT and in the shootout… but if you want to know which team’s goaltender played the better game, it wasn’t even that close.” — Craig Hall via Facebook</blockquote>
<blockquote>“The immediate and painful reminder that all our fears are still legitimate: we cannot win a Cup with Skinner.” — Matthew B. Jorge via Facebook</blockquote>
<blockquote>“Everyone blaming Skinner needs to give their head a shake. He played a good game. First goal was a fluke, second goal should have been called off, but that was a turnover from Nurse (shocker). Third one, okay, he can take the blame for that. He went eight rounds in the shootout. The team went to sleep during the second period; it’s a group effort.” — jr3id__ via Instagram</blockquote>
It’s nice to hear that not all of the fan base is throwing all the heat toward Stuart Skinner and understands that not every goal is his fault. It’s also fair to be frustrated with his performance in that game. Everyone is entitled to their opinions, and currently, a vocal portion of the fan base lacks confidence in Stuart Skinner.

Skinner himself told reporters after Wednesday's loss to Calgary that he'll be putting the gaffe behind him and moving forward with his season.
<blockquote>"I won't be thinking about it, no," Skinner said, per <a href="https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/skinner-fails-first-chance-to-show-oilers-he-can-be-trusted/">Sportsnet's Mark Spector</a>. “It happens. It’s probably the easiest fix I’ll make this year. A quick decision, throw it in the corner, that’s that."</blockquote>
The Oilers will be back in action on Saturday when they host the Vancouver Canucks. Will Skinner be back in the net for his second start, or will Edmonton's coaching staff give backup Calvin Pickard the nod?

‘New year, same Skinner’: Goaltending situation already in spotlight as Oilers blow lead in season opener

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