Good morning, everyone, and a happy Monday to you all. I've got a fresh mailbag ready to go, after taking your questions and sending them to the crew for their take on whatever's on your mind. This week, we're discussing the Stuart Skinner, the Oilers' penalty kill, Darnell Nurse's slash, and more. If you’ve got a question you’d like to ask, email it to me at <a class="text-accent" href="mailto:baggedmilk@oilersnation.com" rel="noopener noreferrer">baggedmilk@oilersnation.com</a> or on Twitter at <a class="text-accent" href="https://www.twitter.com/jsbmbaggedmilk" rel="noopener noreferrer">@jsbmbaggedmilk</a>, and I’ll get to you as soon as I can.



[caption id="attachment_175130" align="aligncenter" width="1024"]<img class="size-large wp-image-175130" src="http://publish.oilersnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/USATSI_26181356-1024x683.jpg" alt="Edmonton Oilers Vegas Golden Knights" width="1024" height="683" /> May 14, 2025; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Edmonton Oilers goaltender Stuart Skinner (74) shakes hands with Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Adin Hill (33) after the Oilers defeated the Vegas Golden Knights 1-0 during an overtime period, completing a 4-1 series win during game five of the second round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images[/caption]

1) Clay asks - What is your take on Stuart Skinner's 'boom or bust' run through the playoffs so far? Issue or coincidence?

Jason Gregor:

I think it gets overblown. If the team plays poorly, and he is part of it, yet most only look to him as the blame. Skinner is very resilient and right now he's playing great. The four remaining goalies their numbers aren't that much different.

Bobrovsky: .911Sv% and 2.12 GAA.
Andersen: .907Sv% and 2.01 GAA.
Oettinger: .906Sv% and 2.76 GAA.
Skinner: .902Sv% and 2.66 GAA.

And in the 2nd and 3rd rounds, Skinner has the best numbers:

Skinner: .936Sv% and 1.64 GAA.
Bobrovsky: .915Sv% and 2.08 GAA.
Oettinger: .905Sv% and 2.62 GAA.
Andersen: .885Sv% and 2.26 GAA.

Sure, at times you'd want Skinner to be a bit more consistent, but you can say that about a lot of other goalies and a lot of players.

Tyler Yaremchuk:

I mean, you'd love to have a goalie who, game in and game out, gives you .910 goaltending but the problem is that there are very few goalies in the league who can do that. The position is very volatile and while Skinner's floor is very low, he's shown once again in these playoffs that when he is on, he is more than capable of stealing games for the Oilers. I won't call it an issue but I hope that as he gets more experienced, he finds a way to raise his floor a little bit.

Liam Horrobin:

Is he the boom or bust or the team? It feels like the team collapses around him, and then he takes the blame on me, especially regarding the penalty kill. Stuart Skinner has a high ceiling and can steal a game from time to time. Unfortunately, some people want him to do it every night, and he's incapable.

Zach Laing:

Wins are what matter most and he's been getting them. His Game 3 performance was very impressive, <a href="https://oilersnation.com/2025/05/25/a-confusing-scenario-edmonton-oilers-stuart-skinner-find-middle-ground-in-the-playoffs/">finding the middle ground</a> of his game. He looks dialed in right now.

Baggedmilk:

There's no doubt that Skinner has been up-and-down through the playoffs, but I'd also argue that the team in front of him can be just as chaotic. I'm sure we've all seen how the Oilers allow more quality shots from the slot than nearly any other post-season team, so a big part of his struggles, I believe, are tied to the play in front of him.

[caption id="attachment_175501" align="aligncenter" width="1024"]<img class="size-large wp-image-175501" src="http://publish.oilersnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Dallas-Stars-celebrate-goal-over-Edmonton-Oilers-1024x682.jpg" alt="Dallas Stars celebrate goal over Edmonton Oilers" width="1024" height="682" /> May 21, 2025; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Stars center Matt Duchene (95) reacts after scoring a goal against the Edmonton Oilers in the third period during game one of the Western Conference Final of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images[/caption]

2) Oilers fan in Van asks - The Oilers' penalty kill has been a story all playoffs long for being up and down, and I want to know how they can improve on the ~65% success rate they've shown so far?

Jason Gregor:

They have improved after a dreadful start v. LA. Game 1 v. Dallas will hurt their overall % for a long time. They allowed three goals on four chances. In the other seven games v. VGK and DAL they only allowed three PP goals. The PK cost them Game 1, but it hasn't been an issue in other games. The Game 3 loss to Vegas the PK didn't allow a goal. When the PK is good they attack as a unit. Blocking more shots will help, and getting clears when they have possession is key.

Tyler Yaremchuk:

They miss on a lot of opportunities to clear pucks out and that's why I'm happy they've started playing Evan Bouchard on the PK. He's good at that. I want to see them keep getting more aggressive as well. When they're passive, that's when they allow a lot of their dangerous looks.

Liam Horrobin:

They changed their style midway through the Vegas series, so I don't like to look at the number as a whole. It was 59.3% after eight games, but in the last five games, it's 75%. Still, it's not an ideal number, but when you consider they've only allowed a power play goal in one of those five games, it's not the worst. The kill in the third period of the Dallas game was overblown. The Stars executed perfectly, and the bigger problem was the penalties taken, more than the kills. In <a href="https://publish.oilersnation.com/2025/05/23/oilers-even-western-conference-final-with-3-0-victory-over-stars-game-2/">Game 2</a>, they adjusted well, preventing passes to the top and forcing easier shots on goal for Stu. Also, they allowed Skinner to see the puck more, which they didn't in <a href="https://publish.oilersnation.com/2025/05/21/stars-score-five-unanswered-goals-in-comeback-victory-oilers-game-1/">Game 1</a>.

Zach Laing:

Mattias Ekholm getting healthy would be a big boost to that unit, but I've noticed they've been at their worst on it when they're playing passively. Being harder on the puck carrier forces mistakes.

Baggedmilk:

I think they chase a little bit too much instead of giving teams more time on the perimeter. When the aggressive play works, the puck is often chipped out of the zone. But when it doesn't work, there are clear lanes that open up in the coverage that we keep getting burned on.

[caption id="attachment_174589" align="aligncenter" width="1024"]<img class="size-large wp-image-174589" src="http://publish.oilersnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/USATSI_26109923_168383996_lowres-1024x682.jpg" alt="Edmonton Oilers Connor McDavid and Calvin Pickard" width="1024" height="682" /> May 6, 2025; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid (97) congratulates goaltender Calvin Pickard (30) after defeating the Vegas Golden Knights 4-2 in game one of the second round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images[/caption]

3) Trish asks - Do you see <a href="https://publish.oilersnation.com/2025/05/17/connor-brown-absent-from-oilers-practice-calvin-pickard-not-on-the-ice-and-waiting-for-the-western-conference-final/">Calvin Pickard</a> returning to the crease when he gets back from injury, or is it back to being Stuart Skinner's net again?

Jason Gregor:

Skinner's best game is better and right now he's at the top of his game. Pickard hasn't practice with the team yet, and when he does return, he'll have been out over three, maybe four, weeks. I'm not putting him in at that time. I'd stick with Skinner.

Tyler Yaremchuk:

This one is a no brainer for me. It is Skinner's net. He's been very good since getting the net back and I think with the way that the Oilers are playing, going with the high-ceiling option is the play. A confident Skinner gives them the best chance to win.

Liam Horrobin:

It's Skinner's crease now. Sorry Cal.

Zach Laing:

It's Skinner's all the way.

Baggedmilk:

As much as I love Calvin Pickard, it's back to being Skinner's net unless he gives it up again. More importantly, I just want Pickard to get healthy in case we do need him again.

[caption id="attachment_175615" align="aligncenter" width="1024"]<img class="size-large wp-image-175615" src="http://publish.oilersnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/USATSI_26270553_168383996_lowres-1024x683.jpg" alt="Edmonton Oilers Darnell Nurse slashes Dallas Stars Roope Hintz" width="1024" height="683" /> May 23, 2025; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Stars center Roope Hintz (24) reacts after being injured against the Edmonton Oilers in the third period for game two of the Western Conference Final of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images[/caption]

4) Tanner asks - Can everyone give me their take on the <a href="https://publish.oilersnation.com/2025/05/24/no-supplemental-discipline-coming-for-oilers-darnell-nurse-after-slash-on-stars-roope-hintz/">Darnell Nurse slash on Roope Hintz</a>?

Jason Gregor:

It is a slash you see often in the NHL. It was a clear penalty. It turns out it was very well-placed. I thought it was a tad ridiculous how many people thought Hintz was faking. It clearly got him in the right spot. Often guys will get slashed in a similar place, but there isn't enough damage to see the player miss a game. It was also embarrassing for some to claim it should be a suspension. If you want that to be a suspension, then the league will have to start calling slashes much more severely. If you want that, that is fine, but slashes to the skates/ankles occur every game.

Tyler Yaremchuk:

It was a two-minute slashing minor. Was it a dirty play? Sure. Nurse knew what he was doing slashing Hintz on the foot. Was there intent to injure? I won't go that far. The result sucks, you never want to see a guy go down, but plays like that happen quite a bit during the playoffs. Hintz also cross checked Nurse right before. He was willing to engage.

Liam Horrobin:

Darnell Nurse slashed Roope Hintz in an awkward spot. He probably meant to get him across the shin pads, more than where he made contact. I'm excited to see <a href="https://publish.oilersnation.com/2025/05/24/stars-upset-about-darnell-nurse-slash-roope-hintz-five-minute-major-if-connor-mcdavid-gets-carried-off-ice-like-that/">Jamie Benn and Mason Marchment</a> try to do something about it in games to come, putting the Oilers on more power plays.

Zach Laing:

I don't even think it was a two-minute penalty and I'll stand by that. Those types of slashes happen all game long, and the only reason Nurse slashed him was that Hintz had just fed him a cross-check in the back.

Baggedmilk:

It was a dumb penalty to take, but the slash was never going to be a major or a suspension. It's unfortunate that Hintz must have gotten hit on the laces or something, but I had a very hard time believing the NHL was going to give him anything other than the two minutes he deserved. The bigger problem, though, was that it was a bad decision by Nurse in the first place.

[caption id="attachment_128900" align="aligncenter" width="1024"]<img class="size-large wp-image-128900" src="http://publish.oilersnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/USATSI_20034267-1024x683.jpg" alt="Carolina Hurricanes Seth Jarvis" width="1024" height="683" /> Feb 18, 2023; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; Carolina Hurricanes center Seth Jarvis (24) celebrates after defeating the Washington Capitals during the 2023 Stadium Series ice hockey game at Carter-Finley Stadium. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports[/caption]

5) Yves asks - Not Oilers related, but can anyone explain how poor the Carolina Hurricanes have been in the conference final over the last few years? They can't seem to win a game.

Jason Gregor:

They don't have a game breaker. They also don't have the players to play different ways. They can't match Florida's mix of skilled nastiness. It is a bad matchup for them. I don't put much stock into the 2009 or 2019 teams, but the 2023 and 2025 Hurricanes clearly don't matchup to Florida. They need someone like Zach Hyman, Evander Kane or Sam Bennett in their top six to give them an added dimension.

Tyler Yaremchuk:

It's brutal. I think they really benefit from being in the Metro Division. The two teams they played on their way to the ECF were both very flawed. They don't need to go through a team as good as Tampa or Toronto.

Liam Horrobin:

They refuse to play their good players. Jacob Slavin, who is widely known as an elite shutdown defenceman, played 23 minutes in Game 2 while 40-year-old Brent Burns came close to 30 minutes. Jordan Martinook played in 25 shifts in Game 2, but they only gave Andrei Svechnikov, their leading goalscorer, 22 shifts. Just so you know, Martinook played more shifts than Leon Draisaitl in Game 2.

Zach Laing:

I'll reference Brock Seguin's tweet here on this one. There's been a lot of turnover from that <a href="https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/CAR/2019.html">2019 team</a>, but not a ton from the <a href="https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/CAR/2023.html">2023 group</a>. Since Rod Brind'Amour took over in 2018-19, they have the second most regular season wins, making the playoffs in each season, but just can't find a way to win the big ones. One has to wonder if a new voice is needed there.

https://twitter.com/Brock_Seguin/status/1926472304046796856

Baggedmilk:

They're the Toronto Maple Leafs of the conference finals. Same players, same coaches, same results.
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