Edmonton Oilers coach reveals opening-night forward lines and defence pairs
The Edmonton Oilers are set to open up the regular season on Wednesday night, and we know what the lineup will look like.
With the players taking part in a full practice on Tuesday morning, head coach Kris Knoblauch assembled his new-look forward lines and defence pairs. This is often used as a smokescreen by NHL coaches to trick everyone into thinking the lineup looks one way, only to switch it up at puck drop.
However, Knoblauch confirmed that what we saw on Tuesday morning would be very close to what fans will see in Game 1 of the season.
So, what will the lineup look like? Here is a look:
Leon Draisaitl – Connor McDavid- Trent Frederic
Andrew Mangiapane – Ryan Nugent-Hopkins – Matt Savoie
Vasily Podkolzin – Noah Philp – Kasperi Kapanen
Isaac Howard – Adam Henrique – David Tomášek
Mattias Ekholm – Evan Bouchard
Darnell Nurse – Alec Regula
Brett Kulak – Ty Emberson
Stuart Skinner
The top line remains the same with McDavid and Draisaitl together, while Frederic fills in for an injured Zach Hyman. That trio has looked good in preseason, and they are expected to get a long look together as Hyman works his way back.
Down on the second line, rookie Savoie has won a top-six role to start the year alongside Nugent-Hopkins and Mangiapane. Knoblauch initially alluded to the rookie starting in the bottom six and working his way up, but he has liked what he has seen from the 21-year-old Savoie.
“I liked how he’s played throughout preseason and all our practices,” Knoblauch said. “I think he’s a smart player, he’s responsible defensively, but I think he also has the skills to contribute offensively and help some other offensive players.
“What’s impressed me is just the energy he’s been providing the team, but also just how well-rounded his game is.”
Philp has won the third-line centre job out of training camp and will skate alongside Podkolzin and Kapanen. The former University of Alberta Golden Bear has been among the most impressive preseason players for Edmonton.
Knoblauch went over the logic of assembling this trio.
“Size and speed. Big guys that cover a lot of ice and can move around quite well,” Knoblauch said. “You get the three of them playing with high energy; they’re difficult to play against.
“I think that line is a little bit different than the other three, and it would be nice to have a little more of that identity.”
Howard was not on the ice this morning due to being sent down, but Knoblauch confirmed that the team will be calling him up, and he will be available to play against the Flames. It looks like Curtis Lazar was holding his spot on the fourth line, meaning he will play with Henrique at centre and Tomášek moving back to the wing.
On the backend, the only big surprise is that Regula is tracking to open up the season next to Nurse on the second pair. The American defender impressed in preseason but is only in this spot due to Jake Walman being injured and likely out of the lineup, according to Knoblauch.
Stuart Skinner is looking like Edmonton’s starting goalie to open up the season as well. The 26-year-old has a career 5-2-0 record against the Flames.