The Edmonton Oilers find themselves in a precarious position, trailing the Florida Panthers 3-2 in the Stanley Cup Final rematch. With their backs against the wall, facing elimination in Game 6 on Tuesday night in Sunrise, Florida, the Oilers' coaching staff is grappling with a critical decision: who will be their starting goaltender?

Coach Kris Knoblauch has remained tight-lipped about his choice, stating that the decision will be made after consulting with goaltending coach Dustin Schwartz, the assistant coaches, and General Manager. The options are veteran Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard. Each goalie has seen action in the series, with varying degrees of success, leading to much debate.

Skinner, who has been the Oilers' workhorse throughout the season and playoffs, started the first four games of the series. However, after being pulled twice in the past two games due to allowing a number of goals, his confidence appears shaken. In Game 3, he was pulled late in the third period after allowing five goals on 23 shots. He then had a shaky start in Game 4, getting pulled after allowing three goals on 17 shots in the first period. Overall in the playoffs, Skinner is 7-6 with a 2.99 GAA and an .891 save percentage, also recording three shutouts.

Pickard, who is typically the backup, stepped in during Game 4 after Skinner was pulled, stopping 22 of 23 shots to help the Oilers rally for a 5-4 overtime victory. That performance earned him the start in Game 5, his first start since the second round against Vegas. Unfortunately, Pickard also struggled in Game 5, allowing four goals on 18 shots in the 5-2 loss. His Game 5 performance marked his first loss of the postseason, dropping his record to 7-1 with a 2.85 GAA and an .886 save percentage.

The Oilers' goaltending situation stands in stark contrast to that of the Panthers, whose netminder, Sergei Bobrovsky, has been a pillar of consistency. Bobrovsky has started 63 consecutive playoff games for the Panthers dating back to 2023, showcasing his reliability and experience. His performance in this series has been strong, posting a .912 save percentage.

The decision of who starts in goal for the Oilers is not an easy one. Skinner has demonstrated the ability to bounce back, and has gone 9-1 in Games 5-7 over the past two postseasons, posting a 1.70 GAA and .918 save percentage. Pickard, while initially providing a spark, has also shown vulnerabilities. Ultimately, Coach Knoblauch will have to weigh the pros and cons of each option and make a calculated decision based on what he believes will give the Oilers the best chance to win and extend the series to a decisive Game 7 back in Edmonton.