Oilers game sheet: Skinner’s redemption overlooked by new lines

Things perhaps needed to be freshened up.

A little rearranging, so to say.

The team that rolled into Las Vegas on May 6, stole home ice, and broke an NHL record is not the same team now facing the possibility of losing at home for the second game in a row. Somewhere along the line, something went wrong.

There’s a different goalie between the pipes — no need to flood the comment section there — and the lines have been looking a little stale.

Less energy from the top six, and less depth from the bottom.

Defence has been a struggle, and while the Edmonton Oilers have been trying to band-aid some larger issues, the Las Vegas Golden Knights have been improving every game.

“We knew Vegas would get better,” agreed Kris Knoblauch following Game 3. “We’ll be making one, maybe two changes. Hopefully that’ll give our team a boost.”

But — ’cause there’s always a but — things haven’t quite reached worst-case scenario just yet.

The Oilers still have a chance to go up 3–1 in a series that’s currently tied if things don’t go their way tonight.

“We’re in a good spot,” reminded Ryan Nugent-Hopkins following Monday’s morning skate. “We’ve got guys who can play up and down the lineup, pick up different roles.

“Twelve guys who are ready to roll and want to help out any way they can.”

That includes Kasperi Kapanen filling in for Victor Arvidsson, Troy Stecher stepping in for Ty Emberson, and of course Stuart Skinner in for Calvin Pickard, who remains day-to-day.

That was perhaps the first indication things would not remain as steadfast as they were — ensuing panic over the backup’s injury.

Ask this Oilers fanbase, though, and the backup-turned-starter became their number one — in Round 1 — when Skinner failed to hold the Los Angeles Kings back for one game, let alone four.

0–3 compared to 0–4, and his second shot at redemption has now been made more complicated by the mixing pot of lines in front of him.

“Some mistakes got into our game,” added Knoblauch. “It’s important that we stick with the plan for a full 60 minutes.”

On the bright side…

“We talk about ourselves as a desperate team, as an experienced team who’s always going to come back,” said Nugent-Hopkins.

Edmonton Oilers Expected Lines

Uhhhhhhhhhh, if I had to guess:

RNH – McDavid – Hyman
Kane – Draisaitl – Perry
Frederic – Janmark – Brown
Podkolzin – Henrique – Kapanen

Nurse – Bouchard
Walman – Klingberg
Kulak – Stecher

Skinner

Expect Corey Perry and Zach Hyman to rotate, as well as more than a few shift with Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid together.