Jack Campbell was an improbable hero for the Edmonton Oilers on Sunday.
Campbell replaced starting goalie Stuart Skinner with the Oilers trailing 3-0 against the Los Angeles Kings after the first period and then stepped up in a big way as Edmonton rallied for a 5-4 overtime victory.
The Oilers’ win tied the best-of-seven playoff series at 2-2.
“Loved the battle in our guys,” Campbell said. “Stu’s been playing amazing all series. We had a tough first there and got an opportunity to come in. The guys played so hard in front of me and battled back.”
Campbell may have essentially saved the Oilers’ season in the third period when he stretched his pad to rob Viktor Arvidsson on the breakaway with Edmonton trailing 4-3.
“That’s a fun part of the game, getting to play one of their best players — going one-on-one with him,” Campbell said. “Fortunately, kept it out and we went down in overtime and won.”
Less than three minutes later, Evander Kane tied it — paving the way for Zach Hyman’s overtime winner.
“I’ve constantly touted we have a good goaltending tandem,” Oilers coach Jay Woodcroft said. “I have belief in both of our goaltenders. That’s not assigning any blame on Stuart for the way the first period went but I felt our team needed a little … change of momentum.”
Woodcroft didn’t name a starter for Game 5 when asked after the victory.
Skinner gave up three goals on 10 shots before Campbell stopped 26 of 27 Kings shots.
Skinner earned the top job during the season as Campbell struggled to hit top form after signing a five-year, $25-million deal with the Oilers last summer.
A Dallas Stars first-round pick in 2010, Campbell was traded to the Kings in 2016.
In 2020, the Kings dealt Campbell to the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Campbell had a 3.41 goals-against average and .888 save percentage this season.
Game 5 is Tuesday in Edmonton.
