Former Cleveland Monsters goalie Calvin Pickard is “The Hot Goalie” right now and has the Edmonton Oilers rolling.
Pickard, drafted 49th overall by the Colorado Avalanche in 2010, has his Oilers up 2-0 in the second-round series against the Vegas Golden Knights after winning 5-4 in overtime last night. Pickard made 28 saves as Edmonton stole home ice away from Vegas and will now look to go back to Rogers Place to finish off the power house Golden Knights.
Pickard replaced Stuart Skinner in a first-round loss to the LA Kings on April 23rd and hasn’t looked back. Since replacing Skinner, the Oilers have done a few things that have the hockey world buzzing.
First off, they’ve now won six straight games, which include four straight to put out the Kings, and the first two games of the second-round series against the Knights. Secondly, all six games in a row they’ve won have come after giving up the first goal of the game. So, not only are they battling from behind, but they’re getting stellar goaltending from Calvin Pickard. Pickard is keeping them close enough to be able to come back and win huge playoff games.
Pickard hasn’t been perfect, but he’s doing just enough for the powerful offense to come around in each game.
Pickard is well-known to long-time Monster fans, and up until last season, was widely considered the best goalie to have ever played for Cleveland. Jet Greaves has since replaced Pickard as the best goalie ever.
Calvin Pickard is second among all Cleveland goalies in games played(142), wins(60), losses(54), TOI, saves, and goals against. He also has 10 career shutouts to his name.
Pickard’s last season for Cleveland came in 14-15, just one season before the AHL affiliation with the Columbus Blue Jackets started. He would remain with the Avalanche organization for one more season before his journey to Edmonton started.
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