This afternoon in a new interview Florida Panthers goaltender Vitek Vanecek revealed what led up to the icy stare down between himself and Stuart Skinner. During Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Finals, tensions were high before the puck even dropped as goaltenders Vitek Vanecek and Stuart Skinner locked in an intense stare down. <div align='center' class='pl20 pr20'><blockquote class='twitter-tweet' data-lang='en'><a href='https://twitter.com/solon_mihas/status/1933310267414171905'><div style='border:1px solid #CCCCCC;border-radius:10px;padding:20px;width:300px;'>Loading from Twitter ...</div></a></blockquote></div> <div align='center' class='pl20 pr20'><blockquote class='twitter-tweet' data-lang='en'><a href='https://twitter.com/spittinchiclets/status/1933310749973348635'><div style='border:1px solid #CCCCCC;border-radius:10px;padding:20px;width:300px;'>Loading from Twitter ...</div></a></blockquote></div> After several seconds, Oilers goaltender Calvin Pickard came in to break things up and chat with Vanecek bringing tensions back down. <div align='center' class='pl20 pr20'><blockquote class='twitter-tweet' data-lang='en'><a href='https://twitter.com/br_openice/status/1933310674567848444'><div style='border:1px solid #CCCCCC;border-radius:10px;padding:20px;width:300px;'>Loading from Twitter ...</div></a></blockquote></div> The mind games initially paid off for Vanecek and the Panthers as Skinner struggled to succeed in Game 4 and <a href='https://www.hockeylatest.com/nhl-team/edmonton-oilers/edmonton-oilers-make-massive-decision-on-starting-goaltender-ahead-of-game-5' class='lien_marqueur' target='_blank' rel='noopener'>was eventually pulled in favor of Pickard.</a> <div align='center' class='pl20 pr20'><blockquote class='twitter-tweet' data-lang='en'><a href='https://twitter.com/br_openice/status/1933334643798843404'><div style='border:1px solid #CCCCCC;border-radius:10px;padding:20px;width:300px;'>Loading from Twitter ...</div></a></blockquote></div> To this point, not much was know about the origins of the pre-game situation although many assumed it was incidental that both players ended up in the same spot initially. Now, an interview with Vanecek has indicated that is not the case. <h3>Vitek Vanecek Gives A Controversial Response After Game 4 Antics</h3> During today's media availability ahead of Game 5, Vanecek was asked about this now viral moment. He first revealed that he was just sticking to his routine while staring down Skinner. However, when asked how long this pre-game routine had existed he controversially responded just this series. <div align='center' class='pl20 pr20'><blockquote class='twitter-tweet' data-lang='en'><a href='https://twitter.com/sportsnetspec/status/1933917370432860218'><div style='border:1px solid #CCCCCC;border-radius:10px;padding:20px;width:300px;'>Loading from Twitter ...</div></a></blockquote></div> <div align='center' class='pl20 pr20'><blockquote class='twitter-tweet' data-lang='en'><a href='https://twitter.com/reporterchris/status/1933917579674099811'><div style='border:1px solid #CCCCCC;border-radius:10px;padding:20px;width:300px;'>Loading from Twitter ...</div></a></blockquote></div> While it is well known that this a new routine for Vanecek it is still interesting to hear him acknowledge the change and gamesmanship so openly. With Game 5 on the horizon, it will be interesting to see if Vanecek continues the pre-game mind games or if he decides to switch up his routine.