Pickard’s Unexpected Brilliance Lights Up Oilers' Stanley Cup Run
What a story unfolding in Edmonton. If you told me a month ago that Calvin Pickard — yes, that Pickard — would be at the heart of a Stanley Cup Final resurgence for the Oilers, I would’ve called it a long shot at best. But here we are. As the Oilers prepare to take the ice tonight in a crucial Game 5 against the Panthers, all eyes are on Pickard, who’s gone from backup to unbeaten postseason hero.
When Pickard came in to relieve Stuart Skinner in Game 4 — down 3-0, momentum slipping — nobody expected what followed. He stopped 22 of 23 shots, the Oilers clawed back to tie it, and then Leon Draisaitl sealed the deal in overtime. That win not only tied the series 2-2, but cemented Pickard’s status as a game-changer. He’s now 7-0 in the 2025 playoffs. Only three goalies in NHL history have ever had more wins in a single postseason without a loss. That’s legendary company.
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Dig a little deeper into the stats, and it’s clear this isn’t just puck luck. Pickard leads all goalies who advanced past the first round in high-danger save percentage — an outstanding .848, compared to a playoff average of .807. And it’s not just the quality of saves — it’s the timing . That glove save on Sam Bennett in overtime? A 13.38% projected goal rate, but Pickard shut it down. That moment turned the tide.
He’s also been the engine behind Edmonton’s eight comeback wins this postseason. Seven of those saw him in net. It’s not just that he’s stopping shots — the team is firing back when he’s on the ice. He leads all goalies in goal support (4.22 goals per game) and goal differential per 60 minutes. The Oilers believe when Pickard’s between the pipes, and that belief is translating into wins.
Tonight, he gets the start in Game 5. It’s massive. History tells us that teams who go up 3-2 in a tied Stanley Cup Final win almost 80% of the time. With Rogers Place roaring and Pickard standing tall, Edmonton has a shot to grab momentum — and maybe the series.
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