Oilers Aim to Stay Alive in Western Conference Final with Pickard in Net
The Edmonton Oilers have announced that Calvin Pickard will start in goal for Game 5 of the Western Conference Final against the Anaheim Ducks. The move comes as a surprise, as Cam Talbot has been the Oilers’ starting goaltender throughout the playoffs. However, Talbot has struggled in the series against the Ducks, posting a .875 save percentage and a 3.50 goals-against average.
Pickard, on the other hand, has been solid in relief of Talbot this postseason, posting a .923 save percentage and a 2.66 goals-against average. He also has a 2-0 record in the playoffs.
The Oilers are hoping that Pickard can provide them with a spark and help them avoid elimination. The Ducks currently lead the series 3-1, and a win in Game 5 would give them a commanding lead.
Lineup Updates
In addition to the goalie change, the Oilers have also made some lineup changes for Game 5.
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Jordan Eberle has been moved to the top line with Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl.
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Patrick Maroon has been moved to the second line with Milan Lucic and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins.
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Zack Kassian has been moved to the third line with Mark Letestu and Tobias Rieder.
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Drake Caggiula has been demoted to the fourth line with Jujhar Khaira and Matt Benning.
The Oilers are hoping that these lineup changes will help them generate more offense and put pressure on the Ducks’ defense.
Game 5 Preview
Game 5 of the Western Conference Final is scheduled for Thursday, May 25, at Rogers Place in Edmonton. The puck drops at 8:00 PM MT.
The Oilers are facing a must-win situation, and they will need to play their best game of the series if they want to stay alive. The Ducks are a tough opponent, but the Oilers have shown that they can compete with them.
It should be a great game, and it could go a long way in determining who advances to the Stanley Cup Final.
Kind regards
R. Bauer
