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Pickard had 24 saves in Edmonton’s 7-4 win in Game 3. He replaced Stuart Skinner in the third period of a 6-2 loss in Game 2 in Los Angeles.

While Trevor Moore beat Pickard with a one-armed shovel between the pads for L.A.‘s fourth goal in Game 3, Knoblauch says Pickard’s third-period performance helped preserve a lead as Edmonton came back from a 4-3 deficit after two periods.

“He came up with some big saves, especially in the third period,” Knoblauch said. “The one I’m thinking about is, there was a couple at the end of the game with a two-goal lead, were outstanding, but early in the third period there was a couple of good chances. 

“I know with one with (Quinton) Byfield coming down, he doesn’t make that save, they have a two-goal lead, third period, pretty tough for us to overcome. He came up with some clutch saves.”

Pickard made his NHL playoff debut last year in the second round against the Vancouver Canucks when he went 1-1 in a pair of starts.

His record this season was 22-10-1 with a .900 save percentage and a goals-against average of 2.71. 

Pickard started eight of Edmonton’s final 11 games of the regular season for a 5-3 record after Skinner was concussed March 26.

“Calvin, you look at his win-loss record, especially after the January first, finds ways to win hockey games, whether we feel better and play better in front of him or just that he comes up with big saves at key times or whatever it is, but he’s able to get that win-loss record,” Knoblauch said. “It’s pretty flattering for him.”

Skinner went 14-9 with a 2.45 goals-against average and .901 save percentage in the 2024 playoffs when the Oilers fell a win short of hoisting the Stanley Cup. Edmonton lost 2-1 to the Florida Panthers in Game 7. 

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 27, 2025.