Calvin Pickard will play his first NHL game since March of 2022 when he starts in goal for the Edmonton Oilers on Monday night.
The 31-year-old, who was born in Moncton, N.B., but grew up in Winnipeg, was recalled by the Oilers last Wednesday. He'll get the start in net when the Oilers face the Panthers in Sunrise, Fla. That game can be seen on Sportsnet and Sportsnet+ at 7 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. MT.
Pickard's last NHL game was an 11-2 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins on March 27, 2022, when the then-Detroit netminder was called in to relieve Red Wings starter Alex Nedeljkovic. His last start was on Jan. 28 of that year — also against the Penguins — when he played 65 minutes in a 3-2 shootout win.
He's been in the American Hockey League since then, posting a 2.03 GAA and a .939 save percentage in four games with Bakersfield, the Oilers' farm team.
Goaltending has been an issue for Edmonton so far this season, with regular starters Jack Campbell and Stuart Skinner both sporting .873 save percentages. The team sent Campbell and his 4.49 GAA down to Bakersfield last week, calling up Pickard as his replacement.
Also expected to play is 22-year-old Swedish defenceman Philip Broberg. The 6-foot-4, 212-pound left-shooting rearguard was called up last week but has yet to see action. Broberg was loaned to Bakersfield on Nov. 4, after failing to register a point in eight games with the Oilers, while averaging just 11:12 minutes of ice time.
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