Smith pulled by Oilers after allowing five goals to Blackhawks in Game 1

Mike Smith was pulled as the goalie for the Edmonton Oilers and replace by Mikko Koskinen in Game 1 of their Stanley Cup Qualifier series against the Chicago Blackhawks at Rogers Place in Edmonton on Saturday.

Smith allowed five goals on 23 shots and was pulled 6:32 into the second period after Dominik Kubalik scored to give Chicago a 5-2 lead.

Koskinen is making his NHL postseason debut.

Jonathan Toews scored twice, and Dylan Strome and Brandon Saad scored in the opening 12:57 of the first period to make it 4-1. Chicago's first goal, by Strome at 5:51, came after Smith made a turnover trying to handle the puck outside his crease.

The Oilers are the No. 5 seed in the Western Conferene; the Blackhawks are the No. 12 seed. The winner of the best-of-5 series advances to the Stanley Cup Playoffs. 

Game 2 is Monday (10:30 p.m. ET; NHL.TV, NBCSCH, NBCSN) at Rogers Place in Edmonton, the Western hub city.

Koskinen started the Oilers' exhibition game against the Calgary Flames on Tuesday, making 17 saves without allowing a goal in the first 29:58. Smith played the final 30:02 and made 19 saves on 20 shots in the 4-1 win.

In the regular season, Smith started all three games against Chicago, going 1-2-0 with a 3.56 GAA and .906 save percentage. The 38-year-old was 12-11-1 against the Blackhawks with a 3.10 GAA, .909 save percentage and three shutouts.

Koskinen shut out Chicago on Nov. 1, 2018, his only start against the Blackhawks. He relieved Smith in a 4-3 loss at Chicago on March 5, making 10 saves without allowing a goal in 25:16.

Smith was 11-12 with a 2.17 GAA, a .917 save percentage and one shutout in 24 Stanley Cup Playoff games (22 starts). Nine of the wins came in 2012, when he helped the Phoenix Coyotes reach the Western Conference Final.