“Yeah, I think just how I want to show up even though that things aren’t maybe going as well as I’d like.” That’s what Stuart Skinner said way back in March when the vibes were shaky, the numbers were slipping, and the Oilers’ fanbase was already tapping their frustration buttons. After 45 games, his save percentage dipped to a not-so-pretty .896, and let’s be real, that’s not what Edmonton had in mind when they pictured their wall in the net. March came in moody, February was a full-on meltdown, and after a sweet little high from taking down the Canadiens and Stars, they got slapped with a loss by the Sabres… the Sabres!

A team that hadn’t sniffed a win since February. One fan didn’t hold back and dropped the mic with, “The Sabres were on a 6-game losing streak… then they played Stuart Skinner’s Oilers.” Pain. Literal, tweetable pain. But fast-forward to now, and the script is flipping faster than a puck on a breakaway. Skinner, once catching strays from every corner of Oilers Nation, just earned himself a wave of redemption after helping lock in a thrilling OT playoff win that punched their ticket to the Western conference finals. Yep, the same goalie who was getting the side-eye all season just went full hero mode under the playoff spotlight.

Sportsnet hit X with an all-caps mic drop: “FOR THE THIRD TIME IN FOUR YEARS, THE OILERS ARE ONTO THE WESTERN CONFERENCE FINAL,” and honestly, that tweet alone felt like a power play. But the real juice? That came from the fans, who were practically singing Skinner’s fables from the rooftops. Yup, the same guy who was catching shade just weeks ago is now basking in glory that’s straight outta a sports movie.

The Oilers faithful? Oh, they showed up big time. One die-hard posted, “I never want to hear an unkind ever uttered against Stuart Skinner,” while another doubled down with the hype, saying, “Yall. Back to back shutouts for Stuart Skinner. What a f—— turnaround.” And honestly? That wasn’t just praise; it was poetic justice. From the X-heat to playoff heroics, Skinner’s redemption arc isn’t just alive, it’s thriving, glowing, and skating straight into Oilers legend status.

And man, talk about a heart-pounding, edge-of-your-seat kinda night! The Oilers went on full chaos mode at T-Mobile Arena, and Kasperi Kapanen was the dude who turned that madness into magic. At 7:14 in OT, he snatched the puck from a messy scramble right in front of the Vegas crease and fired it home! Edmonton walked away with a 1-0 win in Game 5, sending the defending champs packing and booking their ticket to the Western Conference Final. Oh, and Stuart Skinner? Yeah, that man was a straight-up wall, locking in 24 massive saves like a boss. Meanwhile, Adin Hill tried to match the energy with 29 saves, but Kapanen wasn’t about to let him steal the show.

And just to add to the drama, Vegas was rolling without Mark Stone again, still nursing that mystery injury. So they threw Cole Schwindt into the fire for his first-ever playoff game. But the Oilers were firing from the jump, outshooting the Knights 18-13 after two and staying hungry till the final buzzer. Still, none of that mattered once Kapanen ended it. So yeah, Oil Country’s dreaming big again, and next up? Either Dallas or Winnipeg. But coming back to Stuart Skinner, he made waves in the previous game too and had a lil something to share!

Stuart Skinner gets honest after their last win!

A few nights back, the boys in blue delivered their most locked-in, laser-sharp, absolutely dialed performance of the season, Game 4 was all Oilers. A crisp 3-0 shutout win where every piece clicked like clockwork. Offense handled business, the D-line straight up smothered the Knights, and Stuart Skinner? Oh, he bounced back like a king with a 23-save gem that doubled as his first playoff dub of the season, and the 20th of his NHL journey.

Just a few games ago, folks were already jamming the ‘panic’ button. Skinner had lost the net to Calvin Pickard, and everyone was wondering if he’d even get another chance. But when the lights were brightest, Skinner showed up like he never left. “What outside noise? I have no idea. No clue what’s going on,” he laughed when asked about the pressure. Calm, cool, unbothered, like a goalie Zen master. He added, “Just sticking to my process, playing my game, and doing my best out there.” And trust us, he didn’t just chill while the team defended like warriors, dude had to shut down a few heart-stoppers, including a nasty Barbashev breakaway.

Now on the flip side, Adin Hill was not having the chillest night. Edmonton was making his crease feel like a war zone, and the man looked rattled. After Henrique buried his second and Kane got shoved into Hill, things got spicy. Cue the Rogers Place crowd raining down those “ADIIIIIN” chants like confetti. Skinner? Totally unfazed. “It wasn’t our priority [to get on Hill’s nerves]… Gives our fans a chance to go after him,” he said with a shrug. Ice in the veins.