Stuart Skinner returns for Oilers in stunning Game 3 loss to Golden Knights

EDMONTON -- Stuart Skinner's return for the Edmonton Oilers came with a bitter end Saturday.

The goalie lost his first start in more than two weeks when Reilly Smith, desperately trying to beat the clock, scored the winner when his shot across the crease was deflected in by Edmonton forward Leon Draisaitl with 0.4 seconds remaining in a 4-3 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 3 of the Western Conference Second Round at Rogers Place.

The Oilers, at the end of a back-and-forth game that had been tied by Connor McDavid with 3:02 to go, were a second away from going to overtime and keeping their hopes of building a 3-0 series lead alive.

“That’s a goalie’s job, just to give your team a chance to win every night. I thought I did,” Skinner said. “Just a couple tough bounces here and there. We had a good bounce that kind of went off a skate and went in. Those types of things happen. I was happy that I was able to make a couple of big saves when we needed it, but I wasn’t able to finish it out."

The loss, which also ended Edmonton's six-game win streak, cut its lead to 2-1 in the best-of-7 series with Game 4 here on Monday (9:30 p.m. ET; CBC, TVAS, SN, TNT, truTV, MAX).

Skinner will start again for Edmonton; coach Kris Knoblauch said Sunday that Calvin Pickard is still day to day.

Each of the Oilers' six wins in the Stanley Cup Playoffs have come with Pickard in goal after he relieved Skinner in Game 2 of their first-round series against the Los Angeles Kings. Pickard has a 2.84 goals-against average and .888 save percentage in seven games, but he is day to day after sustaining a lower-body injury during a 5-4 overtime victory in Game 2 on Thursday.

That opened the door for Skinner, Edmonton's No. 1 goalie throughout the regular season with a 26-18-4 record in 51 games (50 starts), a 2.81 GAA and .896 save percentage. He made 20 saves in his first appearance since April 23 and is 0-3 with a 5.36 GAA and an .817 save percentage this postseason.

“It’s a tough situation; I think he made some really big saves, especially early in the game on the penalty kill,” Knoblauch said. “And I don’t think there were any bad goals, it was just that we put him out in difficult situations to defend.”

Last season, Skinner gave way to Pickard for Games 4 and 5 of the second round against the Vancouver Canucks. He returned for Game 6, and Edmonton won the series in seven and went all the way to Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final, a 2-1 loss to the Florida Panthers.

“No matter what happens in the future, I’m going to stay ready," Skinner said. "Whenever they call my name, I’ll be ready to go in and do my best out there.”

Skinner's name will be called again Monday. After a shocking finish, Knoblauch was looking at the big picture going into Game 4.

“There are areas to improve on,” Knoblauch said. “If you were to tell us we’d be up 2-1 after three, we’d be very happy. We’d be pleased.

“Not only up 2-1, but Game 4 at home. We’re looking forward to it.”