Nothing fires up fans on a Friday morning quite like fresh line combinations and news about who will start in net. 
The Edmonton Oilers are going with a different look in Game 3 than they had during their losses in Games 1 and 2 in Los Angeles. Calvin Pickard will start between the pipes and the lineup blender has come out again.
How do fans in Oil Country feel about the changes? Let’s start with the positives. 
“I have two key takeaways from this: The McDrai line is not everything it seems. We’ve also seen this deployment when one of the two of them has been injured. I wonder about Draisaitl still. Secondly, those pairings are certainly a thing. Let’s see what happens.” – Kevin McCurdy via X.
“I like these lines. Stacking the top-nine is smart. Every line has some speed, grit and finnishing capabilities. I’m not sure what to think of the backend, I assume it will be fluid all night.” – Den Polland via X.
“Oilers gotta come out and play like St. Louis did last night. They got this if they actually show up at the first face-off. Passive, gradually getting in the game (like most of the season) shit needs to end and hopefully it did with the last game. It’s time for the real Oilers to appear, all us fans are losing patience.” – Graham on Facebook
Unfortunately, I couldn’t find more positives than that when it came to the team’s line combinations. It’s nice to know that some fans believe in the coaching staff, because the more I dig on social media, the more I notice angst toward Kris Knoblauch and his decisions.
“Knoblauch is setting himself up for a firing. He deserves it.” – Raja Dhami via X.
“Knobber has lost the plot… You’re home, so put 97, 29 and 93 on separate lines!!! You make the line matching too easy this way!! What are the other three lines going to do offensively? Knobber is coaching scared before the puck is even dropped!” – OilDoug via X.
“When is someone in the media going to call out coach’s treatment/usage of J. Skinner?! Dude looks great next to McDavid and Brown, and then gets demoted come playoffs and then healthy scratched. F***ing unreal.” – Northern_Nazgul via X.
“My thoughts on these lines is that I won’t have to worry about Oilers hockey this May long weekend and we’ll be seeing Joel Quenneville behind the bench for 2025/26. These lines and D pairings are a disaster waiting to happen. Klingberg-Bouchard should start apologizing to Pickard now.” – Danrek77 via X.
“All of you are worried about the lineups. It won’t matter. We won’t win with bad goaltending. Even if we manage to get through this series. Unless Calvin or stu magically figure out how to make saves consistently. We have no chance of getting a cup no matter what round we end up in.” – Jack on Facebook.
“Damn gotta feel for Jeff Skinner. Bro waits 15 years to get a taste of playoffs & that’s exactly what he gets… just a taste.” – John_nonny via Instagram.
“I personally hate the fact that Frederic is still in. He has been extremely slow and making horrible decisions throughout Game 1 and 2. He’s definitely still suffering from his injury. I would take J.Skinner over him every day of the week right now.” – Matteo_lp97 on Instagram.
One particular part of the lineup raised a lot of questions among many fans. Why is John Klingberg paired up with Evan Bouchard on the blueline?
“Klingberg – Bouch, might be scary bad! Why not Nurse – Walman?” – Tylerjones7564 via Instagram.
“Klingberg – Bouchard could be the scariest pairing I’ve ever seen.” – nicholaswolbeck via Instagram.
“Two gazelles on skates – LA about to eat tonight.” – Tyler via X.
“Not sure how concrete those defense lines are, Bob Stauffer says the D lines were rotating in the skate.” – OilersPositivty via X.
“Was hoping that was the 4th pairing tbh.” – doucette7 via X.
“Holy, Klingberg and Bouchard together so they are just planning on playing no d with that pairing lol.” – Jordan on Facebook.
If there was a move that was almost unanimously praised by fans in Edmonton, it was the choice to go with Calvin Pickard rather than Stuart Skinner as the starting goaltender for Game 3. 
“PICKS IS TAKING US TO THE CUP. BOOK IT.” – msmaiel88 via Instagram.
“I really like this move. It’s going to send a clear message to the whole team that their sloppy defensive play isn’t going to fly. They need to start playing with the same type urgency the Canes had when David Ayers was in net against the Leafs. Bouchard and Nurse need to step up and do their F’n jobs.” – Justinhallphotography via Instagram.
“Team plays better in front of Pickard and that’s a fact.” Justin via Facebook.
“Let’s go picks!! YOU got this!! Dig in!! Believe in yourself and in each other!! START and FINISH strong!! Let’s bring home another W!! Play as ONE to bring home the W!! Have FUN doing what you do best!! Put your  and everything in it!! Remember why YOU are here!!” – Lisa on Facebook.
“Watch him steal the show and become the starter for the rest of the playoffs. And hoist the cup in early June.” Robin via Facebook.
“Calvin Pickard is gonna save this season. I’m not right about a lot of things, but this is gonna be one of them. Book it.” – Brett Jeffrey via X
The Oilers will host the Kings for Game 3 on Friday, looking to avoid falling down three games in this first-round series. Let’s see if Edmonton can turn this thing around.