“I take accountability on those”: Oilers goalie Stuart Skinner owns up to goals during Game 3 blowout loss to Panthers

The Florida Panthers routed Stuart Skinner and the Edmonton Oilers in a 6-1 blowout win in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final on Monday. The Oilers' defensive lapses and penalties handed the game to the Panthers, who were clinical in front of the net and ended up forcing the Oilers' goalie out of the game.

Skinner allowed five goals on 23 shots and was replaced by Calvin Pickard with 16:33 left in the game. The 26-year-old had a rough start right from the beginning, with Brad Marchand scoring the opener for Florida in the very first minute.

Skinner allowed the next two, to Carter Verhaege and Sam Reinhart, and he feels responsible for and could have done a better job in saving those. Both goals came on either side of the first intermission and on power plays in a game where the Oilers racked up 85 minutes of penalty time.

Reinhart's goal in particular, at 3:00 in the second period, was a morale booster for the Panthers, who rebounded just 80 seconds after Corey Perry had made it 2-1. (Start at 0:38)

“To be honest, some were chaotic, some were really nice shots," Skinner said postgame. "It got a little post lucky for them, a couple shots, but I mean, I've had my post luck, too. It goes both ways, and they made some nice shots. ...

"But as a goalie, you've got to come up with a save. It doesn't matter. It's a game of inches. I don't like letting open shots in, so I take accountability on those.”

Stuart Skinner has let in 13 goals in 97 shots for a .866 save percentage in the three games so far. This has brought down his playoff save percentage to .896, while clocking in 802 minutes of ice time so far.

Connor McDavid calls Stuart Skinner 'honorable' for taking accountability

While Stuart Skinner personally feels he could have been better, his captain, Connor McDavid, was of the opinion that the Oilers' defense in front of the net allowed the Panthers to take shots at Skinner's goal, something that they can improve. (Start at 3:47)

“They’ve got some good players, good shooters,” McDavid said. “You give them so much time, they’re going to make their shot. I don’t know how much we’re going to put on Stu, but that’s honorable for him, I guess, to try to do that. But yeah, we can be better, for sure.”

Head coach Kris Knoblauch has a tough call to make ahead of Thursday's Game 4, whether to continue with Stuart Skinner in goal or test the ice with backup goalie Calvin Pickard.