Head coach Kris Knoblauch has brought out the blender with the Edmonton Oilers winless through three games this season.
According to Bob Stauffer, the Oilers will use a different set of line combinations against the Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday as the team looks to avoid being swept in their four-game, season-opening homestand.
Leon Draisaitl has been moved up to the top forward line with Connor McDavid and Zach Hyman, while Ryan Nugent-Hopkins will centre the second line with Vasily Podkolzin and Viktor Arvidsson on his wings. Jeff Skinner has been bumped down to the third line with Adam Henrique and Connor Brown, and the fourth line of Mattias Janmark, Derek Ryan, and Corey Perry remains intact.
Despite coming into the 2024-25 season viewed by many as a Stanley Cup favourite, the Oilers have struggled mightily out of the gate. They were hammered in their opener last week by the Winnipeg Jets in a 6-0 loss. Over the weekend, they hosted back-to-back games against the Chicago Blackhawks and Calgary Flames and lost by scores of 5-2 and 4-1.
The hope in uniting McDavid and Draisaitl is that the Oilers will be able to wake up an offence that’s only scored three goals through three games this season. The dynamic duo played 466:25 together last season at even strength and outscored their opponents 38-to-21. McDavid has been outscored 5-to-1 so far this season and Draisaitl hasn’t been on the ice for an even-strength goal scored by the Oilers yet.
The other major lineup change is Vasily Podkolzin getting elevated into the top-six forward group while Jeff Skinner moves down to a third line that hasn’t connected on a goal yet this season. Skinner has one goal and one assist through three games, while Podkolzin has the best on-ice shot attempt differential on the team at 46-to-14 thus far.
