• Calvin Pickard, after stepping in for Stuart Skinner, led the Oilers to a series win against the Kings, going 4-0 and earning the starting role against the Golden Knights.
• Pickard was the original Golden Knight, selected in the 2017 NHL Expansion Draft, adding a layer of intrigue to the upcoming series.
• The Oilers face a different challenge against the Golden Knights compared to the Kings, requiring adjustments to their systems and personnel.

Calvin Pickard's unexpected emergence as the Edmonton Oilers' starting goalie has become a key storyline as they head into the second round of the NHL playoffs against the Vegas Golden Knights. Pickard, who replaced Stuart Skinner during the first-round series against the Los Angeles Kings, led the team to four consecutive wins. Now, he's poised to face his former team, the Golden Knights, adding an intriguing dimension to the series. The Oilers split their regular-season series with Vegas and are preparing for a different style of play than they faced against the Kings.

• What: Calvin Pickard, the Oilers' goalie, is expected to start against the Vegas Golden Knights in the second round of the NHL playoffs after a successful first-round series against the Los Angeles Kings.
• Who: Calvin Pickard, Stuart Skinner, Kris Knoblauch (Oilers coach), Kelly McCrimmon (Golden Knights GM), Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, Evander Kane, Darnell Nurse.
• When: The second-round series between the Oilers and Golden Knights begins on Tuesday, May 7, 2025. Pickard's starts against the Kings occurred in late April/early May 2025. Pickard signed with the Oilers in 2022.
• Where: The series begins in Las Vegas at T-Mobile Arena. Pickard previously played for the Colorado Avalanche and in the AHL.

Calvin Pickard's journey to becoming the Oilers' starting goalie is a testament to his resilience and perseverance. After a period in the AHL, he seized the opportunity to step in for Skinner and led the team to a series victory. His familiarity with the Golden Knights organization adds an interesting element to the upcoming series. The Oilers will need to adjust their strategies against the Golden Knights, who present a different challenge compared to the Kings. The performance of their special teams and the contributions of key players like McDavid, Draisaitl, and Kane will be crucial.

I never stopped believing in myself, and if you’re not believing in yourself you’re not going to be very successful.

He’s a great person, I’ve known him for many years, and he spent a lot of time in the American Hockey League after he left here. He went to Toronto, was in the American League with their organization and was in the American League with Edmonton and was in a situation where somebody’s misfortune created an opportunity for Calvin and he’s made the most of it.

My evaluation is we’ve got two really good goalies that we have confidence in. Either one of them can go in the nets and we’ll see how they’re playing. We’ve got a lot of confidence in Picks right now because of what he has done. He’s won four games in a row, but if we need to change, we’ve got a great second option.

Coming in Game 3, you don’t want to chase results. You just want to go out and do your job.

Calvin Pickard's unexpected rise as the Oilers' starting goalie has injected new energy into the team as they prepare to face the Vegas Golden Knights. His past connection with the Golden Knights adds intrigue to the series. While coach Knoblauch expresses confidence in both Pickard and Skinner, Pickard's recent performance suggests he will likely start Game 1. The Oilers will need to bring their best game against a strong Vegas team to advance further in the playoffs.