'There a dark side to it': Can Oilers goalie Stuart Skinner find his way down a dark, difficult path?

Game Day 12: Oilers vs Rangers

This in from former Oilers and New York Rangers goalie Steve Valiquette on the extreme mental challenges of playing goalie, the last line of an NHL team’s defence. Article content Article content

Edmonton’s Stuart Skinner faces this kind of difficult challenge just now, as he’s off to an inconsistent start on a team with Stanley Cup aspirations. Article content

Valiquette, who played one game for the Oilers and three seasons in New York as Hall-of-Famer Henrik Lundqvist’s back-up, and is one of the most astute people in hockey, described the mental grind on the Real Kyper and Bourne show with Nick Kypreos and Justin Bourne, as the comeback of Leafs goalie Joseph Wall was being discussed.

Said Valiquette: “I’ve had my teeth kicked in in this game many