Thursday’s Game 2 against the Vegas Golden Knights marks an important moment for the Edmonton Oilers.

They’ll look to snag a 2-0 series lead from the grasp of their second-round foe, something this core has only done once in their 13 playoff series since 2017.

What makes it intriguing is how they’ll be looking to do so.

For what genuinely feels like a first this season, head coach Kris Knoblauch is running the same lineup for the fifth straight game. Throughout the turmoil that this season has brought in the form of highs and lows for players and a fair share of injuries throughout the year — it never felt like this team had all that much time to play with common linemates that yielded results they were happy with.

That’s changed, as Knoblauch has continued to roll the same group of lines that helped secure wins in Games 4, 5, and 6 against the Los Angeles Kings and in Game 1 against Vegas. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it — right?

The sample size isn’t massive for these lines in the playoffs, but all four lines have outscored the opposition at five-on-five. The top line going 6-3, the second line 2-1, the third line 3-1 and the fourth line 2-0.

It’s not just that they’re controlling the goal share handily with the Oilers outscoring 11-7 at five-on-five, but they’re dominating play on the ice, too.

Looking at the per hour rates, all four lines have areas where they’re excelling in. The top line of Leon Draisaitl, Connor McDavid and Corey Perry is just outright walloping the opposition, seemingly matchup proof as they dominate in every category except for goals against. They’ve had poor on-ice goaltending, and two of the three goals against with them on the ice has come when Darnell Nurse and Evan Bouchard have been on the ice with them in 16:15.

The second line of Evander Kane, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Zach Hyman have emerged as an offensive threat, but one that’s playing extremely high-event hockey, allowing above average rates against for shot attempts and scoring chances. They’ve done solid work in limiting the high-danger chances against through, which is a good sign. They’re due for some offence and that could come as soon as tonight.

The third line of Trent Frederic, Adam Henrique and Connor Brown have also emerged in a big way, playing a very similar brand of hockey, but doing a better job of limiting opposing scoring chances. The fourth line, meanwhile, has been rock solid in their very limited 26 minutes, though they could clean up the quality looks their giving up.

Edmonton’s blue line has been somewhat of a mixed bag — Nurse and Bouchard are getting caved in terms of goal share — getting outscored 7-4 — scoring chances against and on-ice save percentage, but are dominating in nearly all other areas.

Their issue has been giving up goals against in bunches, with there being five of seven games so far when they’ve given up one or zero goals against.

Against Vegas:

0 GA in G1

Against Los Angeles:

2 GA in G6

0 GA in G5

3 GA in G4

o GA in G3

1 GA in G2

1 GA in G1

Jake Walman and John Klingberg have been a revelation, dominating across the board, while the third pairing of Brett Kulak and Ty Emberson have struggled in terms of controlling play, but are getting great goaltending and remain positive in goal share.

As it’s constructed, this is pretty close to the optimal lineup for the Edmonton Oilers, and what’s made this so impressive is that the team has four lines that are absolutely rolling right now. Loading up Draisaitl and McDavid with Perry on the top line helps spread some of the wealth down the lineup, and there’s no denying that Kane and Frederic joining this forward group has dramatically changed how this team plays.

Edmonton looks like a major threat in the Western Conference right now, and going up 2-0 over the Golden Knights would only add to the case.

Zach Laing is Oilersnation’s associate editor, senior columnist, and The Nation Network’s news director. He also makes up one-half of the DFO DFS Report. He can be followed on Twitter, currently known as X, at @zjlaing, or reached by email at zach.laing@bettercollective.com.

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