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“He’s a good positional goalie”: Stuart Skinner earns high praise from Sergei Bobrovsky ahead of Stanley Cup Final Game 1
Edmonton Oilers starting netminder Stuart Skinner has received high praise from his counterpart, Panthers’ starter Sergei Bobrovsky. NHL.com reported Bobrovsky’s comments, highlighting Skinner’s strengths:
"He’s a good goalie. You’re not going to make the Final if you’re a bad goalie. He’s a good positional goalie, and I think he’s very composed and he has a good mind."
Stuart Skinner’s good positioning and mind have gotten him and the Oilers to the Cup Finals. Skinner regained his form following two shaky outings during the second round against the Vancouver Canucks. Backup Calvin Pickard started two games, allowing Stuart Skinner to reset.
When Skinner came back for games 6 and 7 against Vancouver, he was lights-out, leading the Oilers to the Conference Finals. During the Conference Finals, Skinner delivered high-quality performances, including 33 saves in game 6 against the Dallas Stars.
That outstanding performance has drawn acknowledgment from Bobrovsky, a former Vezina Trophy winner. Bobrovsky added regarding Skinner’s achievements this postseason:
"It’s definitely a great achievement for him. I wasn’t even close to that in my second year. I was a backup goalie at that point, and I think it’s great for him."
Sergei Bobrovsky will face Stuart Skinner in game 1 of the Stanley Cup Finals on Saturday. While both goalies respect one another, only one can lift the Cup once the series ends.
Dave Rathjen also praised Stuart Skinner's mindset
Sergei Bobrovsky is not the only savvy hockey mind to praise Stuart Skinner.
Dave Rathjen, who coached Skinner while he played junior with the Swift Current Broncos, offered the following insights into Skinner’s mindset:
"He’s laid back and relaxed, but he’s very tuned in with the competitive side to be successful."
Rathjen’s words, as reported by NHL.com, showcase Skinner’s approach to the game. Rathjen would go on to highlight Skinner’s overall nature:
"There’s a neat balance there; he wants to get to the bottom of things, and then he wants to improve from that. Whether it’s a goal against, or a question or a grey area, he works hard to figure out and solve that issue and move on and get ready for the next game, which is very important for a goalie."
Skinner’s next game is game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final. Skinner is a known performer and winner. He won the 2018 Western Hockey League championship with the Broncos. He impressed everyone around him by playing well, particularly in elimination games.
Now, Skinner will step onto the biggest stage in hockey. The Oilers hope Skinner’s laid-back attitude and strong mindset can help them hoist this year’s Cup.
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