Edmonton Oilers making one big lineup change for Game 4 against Stars
The Edmonton Oilers are looking for a stranglehold on their Western Conference Final series with the Dallas Stars tonight, and they’ll do it with a slightly different lineup.
For the first time this postseason, the Oilers are having to deal with an injury. Connor Brown will not be in the lineup for Game 4 after taking a high hit from Alex Petrovic in the second period of Game 3 on Sunday.
With one of the team’s most reliable depth scorers out, head coach Kris Knoblauch told the media that Viktor Arvidsson will draw back into the Oilers lineup for the first time since Game 3 against the Vegas Golden Knights.
“Arvidsson is playing tonight,” Knoblauch confirmed. “I expect him to pick up where he left off… He’s not afraid of getting involved in the play. He is smaller, but he is definitely feisty.
“He’s a smart hockey player. He’s got good puck skills, but something that he really adds to our team is speed.”
"Podkolzin, himself & Janmark played really well… Something that he really adds to our team is speed & last game we could've used a little more of that."
Coach Knoblauch on Arvidsson back in the #Oilers lineup.@Enterprise | #LetsGoOilers pic.twitter.com/lkNnZAZLGz
— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) May 27, 2025
Knoblauch did not specify where in the lineup Arvidsson would play, and the full formation will likely be revealed during warm-ups. The Oilers coach also confirmed that Mattias Ekholm will not play tonight and that Calvin Pickard is set to return to the Edmonton bench to back up Stuart Skinner.
It says a lot about the Oilers’ depth that they can insert a 15-goal scorer into the lineup after suffering an injury. For Leon Draisaitl, it’s the deepest team he’s been a part of in the NHL.
“I think our depth is as good as any in the league,” Draisaitl said. “It’s a luxury to have. That’s what good teams have. I think we got a lot of guys that can play in any situation.
“Arvy is coming in, you can play him on the third line, you can play him on the first line, it doesn’t matter. He knows how to play in every situation, and I think we have a lot of guys that are just capable of playing anywhere up and down the lineup.”
#Oilers forwards Zach Hyman & Leon Draisaitl spoke with the media this morning ahead of Game 4. @Enterprise | #LetsGoOilers pic.twitter.com/pEkeKWucdE
— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) May 27, 2025
Knoblauch has a knack for making the right decision in these types of situations. Many balked at the insertion of Kasperi Kapanen into the series against Vegas, and he wound up scoring the series-clinching goal.
We will see if Arvidsson can make an immediate impact against Dallas.