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Edmonton Oilers make subtle line change ahead of Game 3 versus Ducks

Colton Pankiw
Colton Pankiw
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Apr 24 2026, 8:16 pm
Edmonton Oilers make subtle line change ahead of Game 3 versus Ducks
Isaiah J. Downing/Imagn Images

The Edmonton Oilers are making some changes to their lines following a 6-4 loss to the Anaheim Ducks in Game 2.

The Oilers, who were able to start this series off with a 4-3 victory on Monday night, don’t seem to be fully clicking offensively despite scoring eight goals through the opening two games. Connor McDavid is especially struggling, having yet to record a point in the series.

In an effort to get his team, and most importantly, his captain, going, head coach Kris Knoblauch revealed some new lines ahead of Game 3 on Friday night.

Rather than Matt Savoie skating on the top line alongside Connor McDavid and Zach Hyman, he’s been pushed down to the third line and will play with Josh Samanski and Jack Roslovic. Meanwhile, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins will be promoted to the top line.

Curtis Lazar, who started Game 2 off on the third line, will instead be tasked with centring a fourth line featuring Colton Dach and Trent Frederic. Defensive pairings will remain the same, while Connor Ingram will once again get the call between the pipes.

There could be one more change made to the lineup, as Jason Dickinson, who was forced to miss Game 2, is being labelled as a game-time decision. The 30-year-old had a massive showing in Game 1, scoring two goals, the second of which tied things up at three apiece in the third period.

Dickinson isn’t the only banged-up Oilers forward, either, as Adam Henrique suffered an injury in Game 1. An exact timeline hasn’t been provided on his potential return, though he has been ruled out for both Game 3 on Friday and Game 4 on Sunday.

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