Skinner Shuts Out Kings, Oilers Move into Second Place in Pacific Division

Stuart Skinner, the Edmonton Oilers' goalie, put on a stellar performance in a game that resembled a playoff match. He made 31 saves to earn his second shutout of the season, leading the Oilers to a 1-0 victory over their Pacific Division rivals, the Los Angeles Kings.

Skinner's performance was crucial for the Oilers, who have now won six of their last seven games and moved into second place in the Pacific Division, four points ahead of the Kings. The Oilers are also four points behind the division-leading Vegas Golden Knights.

One of Skinner's most impressive saves came early in the game when he stopped a two-on-one opportunity by the Kings. Anze Kopitar sent a pass to Adrian Kempe, who unleashed a shot that Skinner managed to deflect with his glove. The puck landed on top of the net, preventing the Kings from taking an early lead.

Connor McDavid, who scored the game's lone goal on his 28th birthday, praised Skinner's performance. "He's playing great," McDavid said. "He was really good early on. That save on the two-on-one really gets us going and helps a lot."

Skinner has been a rock for the Oilers lately, going 11-3-1 in his last 15 starts. He has shown the ability to bounce back from tough games, like his last outing, a 5-3 loss in Pittsburgh.

"I think for myself, personally, I've gone through a lot of experiences that have helped me get more resilient as the years go on," Skinner said. "After games like that (against the Penguins) you always want to come back and really bring it and show the guys that you can bounce back. I think that's an extremely important thing for a goalie to be able to do."

The win over the Kings felt like a playoff victory, according to Skinner. "It was very much a playoff game where two teams just went at it and played really solid," he said. "They're a heck of a team. They know how to play us as well as we know how to play them. That is what makes it so much fun and so exciting.