New Beginnings Turn Awkward as Penguins’ Goalie Faces Old Team
Just days after a blockbuster trade shuffled goaltenders between Pittsburgh and Edmonton, the hockey world was handed a storyline that almost felt scripted. The Penguins and the Oilers met at PPG Paints Arena, and right in the middle of it all was Stuart Skinner, now wearing black and gold, starting in net against the very team he had just left. To make it even stranger, both Skinner and Tristan Jarry were still wearing their old masks, a visual reminder of how fresh and surreal the situation really was.
It was admitted by Skinner that the night felt odd from the start. Even during his pregame routine, the reality of facing his former teammates hadn’t fully settled in. The opening minutes were described as a mental adjustment period, with calm needing to be found before the game rhythm could take over. As the night went on, that composure was said to have improved, even as the challenge in front of him became brutally clear.
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Few goaltenders know Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl better than Skinner, having watched them dominate practices for years. This time, though, that familiarity worked against him. McDavid exploded for two goals and two assists, while Draisaitl quietly stacked four assists of his own, leading Edmonton to a 6–4 win. From the Pittsburgh bench, it was acknowledged that the Oilers’ stars were simply on another level, and while the Penguins didn’t feel they played poorly overall, it was admitted that the matchup wasn’t managed as smartly as it needed to be.
The game tilted early when Pittsburgh took three penalties in just over a minute, and Edmonton’s lethal power play went to work. Draisaitl reached his 1,000th career NHL point during a 5-on-3 goal, a milestone that Skinner congratulated with a bittersweet smile, joking that he would have preferred it not come at his expense. Soon after, McDavid struck again to make it 2–0, turning a quiet night for Skinner into a trial by fire.
Despite the score, the atmosphere inside the arena softened the blow. Chants of “STUUU!” echoed through the building, and signs welcoming Skinner were spotted from the crease. That support was described as genuinely moving, especially on a night filled with mixed emotions.
Pittsburgh showed fight, with goals from Tommy Novak, Erik Karlsson, and Bryan Rust keeping things close at even strength. However, the difference ultimately came on special teams. Edmonton capitalized repeatedly, while the Penguins’ power play struggled to find any real flow, even with extended chances.
By the final horn, the loss capped off a frustrating homestand for Pittsburgh, but the mood wasn’t described as defeated. It was emphasized that the season will swing up and down, and while lessons keep piling up right now, the group understands that sulking won’t fix anything. For Skinner, the night may have been uncomfortable, emotional, and imperfect, but it also marked the true beginning of his new chapter in Pittsburgh.
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