Matt Savoie’s time in the press box has already come to an end.
After watching from above for the Edmonton Oilers’ two most recent games, a loss to the Florida Panthers and a skid-snapping win over the Carolina Hurricanes, he’s slated to return to the lineup Tuesday as the Anaheim Ducks come to town.
He’ll retake his spot alongside Leon Draisaitl on the second line, where the rookie skated in three games last week. He notched his first point, an assist, in his first game, and has added three shots, 10 shot attempts and nine individual scoring chances in the trio of games.
Savoie and Draisaitl will see Vasily Podkolzin on the opposite flank. The Oilers top line will remain the same, with Connor McDavid centring Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Zach Hyman, while the third will see Adam Henrique up the middle with Mattias Janmark and Connor Brown on his wings.
The fourth line, meanwhile, will see Kasperi Kapanen play centre again, with Jeff Skinner and Corey Perry on his wings.
Darnell Nurse is expected to return from a two-game absence due to an undisclosed injury, but what the defence will look like remains in limbo. The Oilers recalled defenceman Cam Dineen on an emergency basis Monday, with Brett Kulak and Mattias Ekholm getting Monday off.
Nurse, meanwhile, said the Oilers are looking to reset their standard of play.
“It doesn’t matter who you are,” Nurse said. “You go through stretches where you’re not playing to the standard that you want, and I think for us, we definitely went through that stretch. It feels like we’re making momentum and gaining our game back. With that said, though, it’s got to continue.”
Calvin Pickard is expected to get the start for the Oilers after turning aside 35 of 36 shots for a .972 save percentage in the Oilers’ 3-1 win over the Hurricanes Saturday.
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.
