Talbot apologized to teammates for leaving bench after being pulled

Cam Talbot says he took responsibility for his actions after frustration got the better of him Tuesday night.

The Edmonton Oilers goaltender remained in the dressing room down the stretch in a 6-2 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks. Talbot got the hook on Chicago's fourth goal of the night. That marker, scored by Patrick Kane, was the third goal Talbot allowed in a span of just over two minutes.

"(It was) a highly emotional game (and) I was frustrated with how things went in the third period," Talbot told reporters, including TSN's Ryan Rishaug, on Wednesday. "I was in the wrong to stay in the room. I told (that to) the guys after the game and they all had my back. They understood I was frustrated and I did apologize to them after(ward)."

Talbot added that he met with his teammates Wednesday morning and head coach Ken Hitchcock tabbed him as the team's starter for Thursday night's game against the Minnesota Wild.

It's been a difficult season for Talbot, who's lost playing time to Mikko Koskinen due to inconsistency.

"It's been tough," Talbot said. "You go through some good stretches and then a few more bad stretches this year than I've had probably in my career. So I'm just trying to go out there every day, make the saves I'm supposed to make, come to the rink every day, and be professional."

The 31-year-old netminder is in the final year of his contract, which carries a $4.17-million cap hit, according to CapFriendly.

He's 9-14-3 with a .892 save percentage and a 3.39 goals-against average in 29 games.

The Oilers signed Koskinen to a three-year contract extension last month.

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