Stuart Skinner reacts to his first win with Pittsburgh
For the former Edmonton Oilers goaltender Stuart SkinnerTuesday night finally offered a turning point Pittsburgh Penguins. After giving up his first three starts with the team following his move from Edmontonveteran netminder Skinner turned in his strongest performance yet in a 5-1 win over the Carolina Hurricanes at PPG Paints Arena.
Skinner stopped 27 of 28 shots against one of the most structured and aggressive teams in the NHL, finished with a .964 save percentage and earned the game’s first star.
A performance marked his first win as a Penguin and helped Pittsburgh secure its second straight win after the holiday break. After the game, Skinner admitted both relief and process settlement in a new environment.
“Obviously, the first win. It’s been a couple of weeks that I’ve been here, so it was really good to finally get the first one. … I’ve got a few more practices and a few more games, so yeah, I’m getting better as we go along,” Skinner said, via Pens Inside Scoop .
The result was especially significant given Skinner’s rocky introduction to Pittsburgh. In his first three appearancesThe 27-year-old has struggled to find consistency, posting a save percentage below .870 in each outing.
Tuesday’s performance helped stabilize his total, leaving him with an overall save percentage of .888. But beyond statistics, Skinner’s calm presence was critical during Carolina’s third-period push.
Pittsburgh’s defensive structure tightened up, and Skinner made a timely stop to preserve the momentum of a complete 60-minute effort against one of the Eastern Conference’s best teams.
Victory also came as Pittsburgh ended the 2025 calendar year on a positive note. Contributions throughout the lineup, including Justin Brazeau setting a new career high with his 12th goal of the season, highlighted a roster that was beginning to find a rhythm.
For Skinner, who posted a 109-62-18 record in six seasons with the Oilers, the performance may represent a foundation, not an ending. As chemistry continues to build and confidence grows, the Penguins will look to carry this momentum into 2026, and Skinner aims to turn his first win into a lasting success.
2025-12-31 08:39:00
