Oilers Shake Up Lineup Trying To Stop Three Game Losing Streak Tonight
Photo credit: North Shore News
The Edmonton Oilers haven't had the start to the season they've wanted with an 0-3 record, and tonight Coach Knoblauch is significantly shaking up the lines.
According to Bob Stauffer at Oilers practice, just about every line and defence pairing will have a new look heading into Game 4 against the Philadelphia Flyers.
Most noticeably, Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid have been reunited on the first line with Zach Hyman. Oilers fans have seen this dominant trio play together before and single handedly win games, but it comes at a cost to the pace of the other lines.
Vasily Podkolzin has been moved up to the second line with Victor Arvidsson, not centered by Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. If Nuge can succeed in driving his own line and winning his minutes against other second line centers, Arvidsson could potentially provide some scoring and Podkolzin some physicality. This new look second line features two new players, and looks much improved from years past.
After a few decent games, Jeff Skinner has been demoted to the third line. The 32 year old high profile free agent signing has scored a goal and an assists in his three games so far, and this move may be more about spreading scoring throughout the lineup as Knoblauch has previously mentioned. Skinner's been great offensively but a liability defensively, and perhaps that can be guarded by Henrique and Brown.
On defence, the Oilers are continuing a carousel of depth defenders. This time Troy Stecher will get a look in the top four next to Darnell Nurse, while Ty Emberson comes back in on the third pairing, and Travis Dermott is scratched. The Oilers defence has been a significant concern early this season, and they need to quickly find their rhythm.
Stuart Skinner will get the start in goal, looking to bounce back with his first quality start of the season.
Tonight at home against another rebuilding team in the Philadelphia Flyers, the Oilers will have a great opportunity to claim their first victory of the season. If they once again fail to show up big on the scoresheet and are too leaky in the defensive end, the concerns about a slow start for the Oilers will become a little louder.
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