Terrible case of false hope for Jeff Skinner by the Oilers hours before Game 2

After the Game 1 collapse in the Western Conference Final against the Dallas Stars, it felt more important than ever for the Edmonton Oilers to make significant changes for Game 2 on Friday night.

While the Oilers need to be better on the penalty kill, and perhaps take less, they also need to play pucks deep and improve their forecheck. Most fans thought head coach Kris Knoblauch could shake up his lines for the contest, but according to insider Daniel Nugent-Bowman, it looks like the same lineup will be dressed for Game 2.

Much to the chagrin of veteran forward Jeff Skinner.

Since joining the NHL back in 2010, Skinner had never played a single playoff game and finally got the chance when the Edmonton Oilers faced the Los Angeles Kings in Game 1 of their first round series. But then, he was taken out of the lineup. The Oilers’ injured players returned to the lineup, and head coach Kris Knoblauch decided to take Skinner out and sit him in the stands.

And so, in fifteen long years, Skinner has only taking part in one single playoff game seeing that he never got the chance when he played for the Carolina Hurricanes and then the Buffalo Sabres.

Game 2 could have been the perfect opportunity for Skinner to draw back in and the veteran might have gotten some false hope when he practiced this morning on a line with Evander Kane and Adam Henrique. However, he was repeatedly only filling in for Connor Brown, who said yesterday he’s skipped a couple skates for maintenance reasons.

Coach Knoblauch later confirmed that Brown will play Game 2 despite not taking part in the morning skate.

Fans are heartbroken for Skinner, even more so today that he was taking part in the runs of the lines hours prior to Game 2.
Maybe coach Knoblauch should give him a shot if things keep going downhill for the Oilers…

Fans are wondering what was said to Skinner, who is a pending free agent going into the offseason. This summer, we’ll see whether a playoff-caliber team will offer him a contract as an unrestricted free agent— or if he’ll have to settle for signing with another bottom-tier club and wait again for another shot at the playoffs.

After a disappointing season with just 29 points — though he still managed to score 16 goals — Skinner recorded an assist in his lone playoff contest.