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Edmonton Oilers announce drastic line changes and a new goalie for Game 3

Colton Pankiw
Colton Pankiw
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Apr 25 2025, 5:04 pm
Edmonton Oilers announce drastic line changes and a new goalie for Game 3
Perry Nelson/Imagn Images

The Edmonton Oilers are hoping some big line changes can give them the spark they need to get back into their series versus the LA Kings.

The Oilers are in an early hole as they dropped both games at Crypto.com Arena, resulting in them heading back to Rogers Place in a 2-0 hole. Head coach Kris Knoblauch is well aware of the rather dire circumstances and has made some serious tweaks to his lineup in hopes of picking up a win this evening.

The biggest change will be between the pipes, as Calvin Pickard will get the start over Stuart Skinner, who allowed 11 goals on just 58 shots through the first two games. Pickard made two starts against the Kings this season, going 0-2-0 with a 3.52 GAA and a .891 SV%.

Up front, Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl will continue to play on the same line, though it will be Zach Hyman going alongside them rather than Corey Perry. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins will centre the second line with Vasily Podkolzin and Viktor Arvidsson on his wings, while Adam Henrique will be in the middle of Evander Kane and Connor Brown on the third line.

As for the fourth line, Mattias Janmark appears to be centring Trent Frederic and Perry, meaning that Jeff Skinner will sit as a healthy scratch for the second-straight outing.

There have been some big shuffles on the blue line, as well, as it appears that Evan Bouchard will be paired with John Klingberg in a rather surprising pairing. Darnell Nurse will play with Ty Emberson, while Brett Kulak and Jake Walman will make up the third pairing.

Regardless of all these changes, the Oilers will need to be far better in several areas, specifically special teams, to have a chance tonight versus a stingy Kings bunch.

Tonight’s puck drop is set for 8 p.m. MDT.

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