The Edmonton Oilers lost Game Three 6–1 in a chaotic matchup that saw goaltender Stuart Skinner pulled after allowing five goals on 23 shots. Some Oilers fans are frustrated with Skinner’s playoff performance—and now, a few have taken their frustration too far.
Skinner currently holds a 7–6 record in the playoffs, with a save percentage of .894 and a goals-against average of 2.84—numbers that don’t particularly impress, especially for a team that has reached the Stanley Cup Final. In Game Three, Skinner was pulled after the Panthers scored their fifth goal on just 23 shots.
Frustrated fans
While fan frustration is understandable, according to Chloe Skinner—Stuart’s wife—some fans have crossed the line. During an appearance on the Breaking the Ice podcast, she revealed that the family has received death threats.
“We have a very passionate fan base, and the people here live and breathe for the Oilers. It’s a tale as old as time, where the goalie becomes the punching bag a bit. This year definitely got intense. There were times when security had to be involved. I specifically have DMs filled with death threats—towards the kids, towards myself—from anonymous accounts,” Chloe said on the podcast, according to HockeyFeed.
Stuart Skinner gets death threats
“It can get really ugly. People threaten that if they ever see us, they’re going to take us out. It gets intense. I’m making it lighthearted right now, but when I read those messages, I get really scared. I obviously worry for the safety of my family and my young boys. It’s terrifying to think there might be people out there willing to hurt us over the result of a game. It’s a little deranged,” she added.
Game Four is being played tonight in Sunrise. The Oilers have not yet announced who will start in goal.
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