PROJECTED LINEUP: Skinner set to start in do-or-die Game 6

EDMONTON, AB – Netminder Stuart Skinner will start for the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday when they try to stave off elimination in Game 6 of their second-round series against the Vancouver Canucks.

"I'm very excited to get back in the net," Skinner said. "I'm excited to get to do my job again."

Skinner will return between the pipes for tonight's pivotal Game 6 at Rogers Place after giving way to Calvin Pickard as the starter for Games 4 & 5, watching his partner backstop the Oilers strongly with 51 saves on 56 shots despite split results that left Edmonton on the verge of elimination from the playoffs.

"It was tough just because you want to be in there," Skinner said. "But at the same time, I was just ecstatic for Calvin. He played incredible. The guys played really well. He got the job done when he was asked to get put in. He's been doing that all year for us."

Skinner will need to rebound from allowing 12 goals over the first three games of the Second Round, recording a 4.40 goals-against average and a .793 save percentage with a 1-2-0 record.

The Edmonton-born goalie appreciated the time that he was given to work through some issues and the support he received from his teammates, saying the experience was valuable toward preparing him for getting back in the crease for tonight's do-or-die Game 6 in Oil Country.

"Any type of situation like that, it's difficult," he said. "I've been working on my mental game for a long time here, and it was just another experience where I got to work on some more stuff. So being able to throw that frustration down and be the best teammate I could possibly be, I had a lot of fun and was able to get my work in."

Head Coach Kris Knoblauch said that it was important to give Skinner the time he needed to work on his game before they went back to the 25-year-old, who's been 'the guy' for the Oilers all regular season and will get the chance to keep his team's season alive tonight.

"Stu had a couple of days to reset, take some time away and evaluate his game and think about some things; but also, spend some time on the ice and work on getting back to his game," Knoblauch said. "And we've seen Stu play unbelievable and steal games. Just solid. He's been our guy all year, so in a situation like this, that's what we wanted."

Knoblauch also confirmed that forward Adam Henrique won't be in the lineup, while the Oilers have a few more question marks that will be answered during warm-ups.

"We'll have an extra guy for warm up and then we'll be making that call depending on how everyone's feeling," Knoblauch said.