“He’s been a true pro and a great person all the way through. I think good people get rewarded, and he works as hard as anyone I’ve seen. Couldn’t be more deserving,” said Connor McDavid about Calvin Pickard when the latter was announced as the starting goalie for Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final series. However, what happened at the start of the game raised questions on whether he was the right choice. A recent report gave an interesting perspective on what went wrong with Pickard in the opening twenty minutes.

A recent report gave an interesting and detailed perspective on what went wrong with Pickard in the opening twenty minutes of the game. Pickard has been in the spotlight and part of ongoing debates for quite some time now, particularly regarding his recurring difficulties in making crucial saves when they were most needed. Now, with thorough expert analysis being shared, more structural issues and coachable elements of his goaltending technique are beginning to come to the surface.

A report by Jesse Granger, who covers NHL goalies and works with NHL Network and The Athletic, stated: “Calvin Pickard was good in the 1st period, but Marchand’s opening goal could’ve been due to glove positioning, and Pickard choosing a blocking butterfly over an active one.” Brad Marchand began pressing Pickard early in the game and scored a goal at 9:12 of the first period.

As Marchand approached the Oilers’ net, Pickard misread his intentions and dropped into the butterfly position. However, Marchand snapped the puck into the upper corner of the net, and the Panthers celebrated their first goal. The glove positioning was also notably off, appearing to be in the wrong place. The reporter added, “On Marchand’s shot, Pickard opted to get as close to him as possible, challenging at the top of the crease and using a blocking butterfly. Marchand beats him over the glove.” Calvin Pickard saved 14 out of 18 shots in Game 5, resulting in a save percentage of just 0.778. In contrast, he performed exceptionally well in Game 4, allowing just one goal and posting a save percentage of 0.957.

The expert indirectly suggested that Pickard could learn a few things from Bobrovsky. Jesse Granger wrote on X, “Bobrovsky keeps his hands in front of him, with his glove pointed directly at the puck on this partial breakaway by Connor Brown.” Bobrovsky has exceptional glove work that puts pressure on opposing players trying to score. A hockey expert illustrated through graphics how Bobrovsky’s glove positioning is nearly perfect, consistently staying within the shooting angle. If the shot misses the glove, it’s likely to hit the crossbar, which is a favorable outcome for the Panthers.

Kris Knoblauch defends goalies amid mounting issues

The Stanley Cup Final series has entered dangerous territory for the Edmonton Oilers. They lost Game 5, and the series now stands at 3-2, putting the Panthers just one win away from repeating last year’s Stanley Cup victory. However, the Oilers still have a chance to bounce back in Game 6 of the series. To do so, they need to make significant changes in several areas. For example, starting with their slow starts in the first period.

But you know, many now widely recognize another issue: the goaltending problem. The Oilers have come to realize that both of their goaltenders, Calvin Pickard and Stuart Skinner, are struggling against the Panthers’ relentless offense. Skinner has gone 7-6 with a 2.99 goals-against average (GAA), a .891 save percentage, and three shutouts in 14 starts this postseason. Meanwhile, Pickard holds a 7-1 record with a 2.85 GAA and a .886 save percentage across 10 games. While the stats aren’t disastrous, they highlight ongoing inconsistencies that the Oilers can’t afford this deep into the Stanley Cup Final.

In Game 3, the Oilers allowed the Panthers to dominate with a decisive 6-1 victory. More broadly, their ongoing inability to prevent early goals continues to be a glaring issue. Despite these struggles, the franchise’s head coach is standing firmly behind his goaltenders. Kris Knoblauch recently made a statement in support of both Pickard and Skinner, saying, “We’ve got two goalies that have shown that they can play extremely well and win hockey games, and we feel that no matter who we choose, they can win the game.” If the head coach truly believes in his goaltenders, then the Oilers must prove him right by securing a win in Game 6. A do-or-die matchup is taking place on the Panthers’ home ice in Sunrise. The question now is whether the Oilers can rise to the occasion and force a Game 7.