Oilers reveal who was behind emergency goalie entering game

It was a great moment at Rogers Place on Saturday night, as the Edmonton Oilers put the finishing touches on their dominating victory over the struggling Chicago Blackhawks by allowing emergency goaltender Matt Berlin to close out the final two minutes of the game. 

With the Oilers comfortably ahead by a 7-3 score, it was Berlin entering the game and even recording a save; he'll go into the NHL record books with a perfect save percentage and goals against average. His presence on the bench was necessitated after goaltender Stuart Skinner was held out after coming down with an illness; Jack Campbell started the game. 

And according to head coach Jay Woodcroft afterward, it was none other than superstar forward and captain Connor McDavid's idea for Berlin to finish the night on the ice between the pipes for the Oilers. 

Berlin is no stranger to hockey, as he's currently the University of Alberta’s backup goalie. But he admitted that his heart was pounding when he was told that he was heading into the game. 

“I thought they were kidding, I thought they were joking,” a clearly excited Berlin explained. "They said ‘at the three-minute mark be ready to go. First whistle after the three-minute mark you’re going in.’

“I went back (in the tunnel), did a couple of stretches, took a couple of breaths and I was in. (My heart) was pounding for the four minutes after he told me. But after I got in there and had a drink of water I was all right.”

“It came from the players,” said Woodcroft of the idea to insert Berlin, while adding that it was McDavid who initially suggested it with less than ten minutes remaining in the 3rd period. 

“We talked about it on the bench and with our goalie coach upstairs. We have nothing but respect for the Chicago Blackhawks, we just wanted to give somebody an opportunity they will remember for the rest of their lives."