Wed Apr 02 01:40:00 UTC 2025: ## Oilers Goalie Pickard Set for First Career Start Against Former Team, Vegas Golden Knights

**LAS VEGAS, NV** – Edmonton Oilers goaltender Calvin Pickard will make his first career start against the Vegas Golden Knights Tuesday night, marking a unique moment in his career. Pickard, selected by the Golden Knights in the 2017 Expansion Draft, never played a game for the team. This start comes as Oilers’ number one goalie, Stuart Skinner, is sidelined with an upper-body injury.

“It’s exciting,” Pickard said of the matchup. “It’s a team we see quite often, a great team. They’re good off the rush, they have big bodies, and they’re well-rounded. We’ll have to be ready.”

Pickard is coming off a 26-save performance in Saturday’s overtime win against the Calgary Flames. While he maintains his preparation remains consistent regardless of game frequency, he acknowledges the increased responsibility as the current starting goalie.

Meanwhile, there’s positive news on the injury front for the Oilers. Captain Connor McDavid skated with the team for the first time since suffering a lower-body injury on March 20th. He is expected to be back soon. Forward Trent Frederic also participated in his first practice since suffering a lower-body injury and Evander Kane, recovering from off-season surgery, continues to progress.

“It’s encouraging seeing a lot of new guys out there,” said Head Coach Kris Knoblauch. “Kane, Frederic, and Connor are all trending in the right direction.” While their playoff return is uncertain, their progress is a boost for the team.

The Oilers’ projected lineup against the Golden Knights includes:

**Forwards:**
* Podkolzin – Draisaitl – Arvidsson
* Hyman – Nugent-Hopkins – Kapanen
* Skinner – Janmark – Brown
* Jones – Henrique – Perry

**Defense:**
* Walman – Bouchard
* Nurse – Stecher
* Kulak – Emberson

**Goaltender:**
* Calvin Pickard

The game marks the start of a four-game road trip for the Oilers.

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