Stuart Skinner makes his feelings known after Oilers' shutout win over Kraken amid wild trade rumors

After a difficult outing against Dallas, Stuart Skinner delivered the perfect response on Saturday. He helped the Edmonton Oilers bounce back to a commanding 4-0 victory over the Seattle Kraken. With two strong days of practice behind him, Skinner turned in one of his sharpest performances of the season, stopping all 26 shots he faced for his second shutout.

Speaking with Gene Principe after the game, Skinner described the matchup as far tighter than the final score suggested.

"It was a really competitive match tonight," Skinner said. "Both teams really brought it. A lot of PKS that we were able to kill, some power plays that we were able to finish on. So, yeah, overall, I mean, it was just a very competitive game. Might look a little bit one-sided with the 4-0, but both teams came to play."

Stuart Skinner's calm presence and confidence helped the Oilers, who were eager to rebound after recent inconsistency. The Oilers have lost five out of their last eight games.

The victory also served as an important personal reset. Skinner entered the game having allowed at least three goals in five straight starts. Amid his struggles, he was getting linked to rumors of a potential trade.

The rumors intensified as the Oilers struggled to win against Dallas, Buffalo, and Colorado, despite making it to two Stanley Cup finals. And when teams lose with large goal margins, fingers get pointed at the goalie. However, despite the pressure, Skinner loves being a goalie.

"Oh, man, there's a lot teaches you, a lot of valuable lessons, not just about how to stop a puck, but just life in general as a man," Skinner said. "So I think those are kind of the biggest things that I take away from it. Yeah. I mean, I love this. It's it's not too bad."

Saturday’s shutout improved his record to 9-7-3, even as his overall 3.00 goals against average and .885 save percentage reflect a season with ups and downs. Still, he has won six of his last nine outings, showing encouraging signs of stabilization.

Stuart Skinner praised Oilers' chemistry against Kraken

The Oilers executed in all areas, killing several key penalties while capitalizing on their own power play opportunities. When asked about the moment he knew the afternoon was going well, Stuart Skinner pointed away from individual rhythm and toward the collective energy of the team.

"I don't know if I really felt much," Skinner said. "I feel like we just really played a solid game... kind of just fighting for each other... some chemistry and camaraderie between the guys in there."

For Stuart Skinner and the Oilers, the win over Seattle was more than a shutout. It was a confidence builder and proof of the level they can reach when they play connected and committed hockey.