FEATURE: Seeing more Skinner

EDMONTON, AB - Seeing Stuart Skinner arrive at Rogers Place in time to take part in Friday's practice was a pleasant sight for Oilers coaches and players, but it didn't happen without challenges.
Complications related to COVID-19 surrounding the Bakersfield Condors had Skinner's arrival back in Oil Country looking like it might've been delayed, but positive developments on that front meant the 23-year-old would soon be bound for Edmonton.
"The whole team tested positive, and then it ended up being false positives for pretty well everyone except one or two guys I think," Skinner said on Friday. "I tested three more times and they were all negative, so I was able to hop onto the plane. I'm pretty grateful for that."

Skinner earned the victory in his last two starts with the Oilers on Dec. 16 & 18 against the Columbus Blue Jackets and Seattle Kraken before multiple schedule postponements in the following days and the return of Mike Smith to the fold meant he'd soon be back on his way to Bakersfield. Over nine NHL games this season, Skinner has posted a 4-5-0 record with a 2.70 goals-against average and .916 save percentage.
He's continued to operate with an NHL-ready mindset in the AHL, working diligently to be prepared for his next chance and improving to 6-0-2 in Bakersfield with a 1.96 GAA and .925 save percentage - including a shutout in his last start on Jan. 9 against the Abbotsford Heat.
"I think playing down in Bako, it was a great opportunity for me just to tweak a couple things here and there," Skinner said. "Watching some video with (Condors Goaltending Coach) Sly Rodrigue down in Bako, he and I really focused on my management of the game and always being prepared; keeping the NHL level down in the AHL.
"Every single time you step on the ice, there's always something you can learn."
The Oilers haven't played a game since January 5. Since then, Skinner is 3-0-0 for the Condors with a shutout, 1.31 GAA and .935 save percentage, leaving Head Coach Dave Tippett with no hesitation to go right to the hot hand on Saturday against the Ottawa Senators.

"He's played well down there," Tippett said. "Smitty is going to be out for at least a week or so, so he'll get a chance to play up here again. Skinner played three games last week and played very well in all three of them, so we'll give him an opportunity tomorrow to continue to play well."
Tippett alluded to an added aura of professionalism around Skinner this season that's a product of the young netminder's work up to this point to secure a regular job in the NHL and make the most of his opportunities.
"This year he finally looks like an NHL goaltender, but the development for him has started two and three years ago," Tippett added of the 2017 third-round pick. "(Oilers Goaltending Coach) Dustin Schwartz has done a great job with him. Skinner spent the time here in the last two summers really working on his game, working on his fitness, working on his skating; things that you don't think goaltenders normally work on."
"He's put a lot of time and effort into that and really willed himself to an NHL level, and now he just needs the opportunity. Through injury this year, he's got some opportunity and played well, so the opportunity grows."
While Skinner acknowledges he feels a much more-prepared netminder this time around since making his first NHL start just over a year ago against Ottawa, every opportunity either in Edmonton or Bakersfield is a blessing and still carries the same expectations of every goalie.

"Whenever you get a chance to play in the NHL, even as a call-up or if you're established, I think every single time you get an opportunity to play in this League, it's something that's been a dream for everybody that's played here," he said. "Every moment you get a chance to play, I think it's very exciting and we're very fortunate to come up and play in this League.
"I think for me, I have the same mindset of playing the best I can play and stopping the puck. No matter where I am, in Bako or in Edmonton, I have one job."
Skinner admitted he had mixed emotions following his NHL debut of 33 saves on 38 shots in that 8-5 win for the Oilers over Ottawa last year. There's a little bit of extra redemption on the line on Saturday.
"That was quite the experience," he recalled. "Playing your first game, it's obviously nerve-wracking and it's something you've been looking forward to for your whole life.
"Now coming around back to Ottawa, I kind of want to get a bit of redemption back. Obviously, for myself, I don't think I played the best game when I played them the first time, so I'm excited to play these guys again, keep stopping pucks and doing my thing."