Kris Knoblauch mixed up a few forward lines and defense pairings at Morning Skate.
Kris Knoblauch mixed up a few forward lines and defense pairings at Morning Skate.
EDMONTON -- Game on.
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The offensive-minded Edmonton Oilers have taken their talents back to Rogers Place, where they will contend with the Carolina Hurricanes tonight as part of the "Frozen Frenzy."
And they are going to do it with some new line combinations.
Kris Knoblauch is going back to the same top six the team started the season with: Connor McDavid flanked by Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Zach Hyman, with Leon Draisaitl centering Jeff Skinner and Viktor Arvidsson.
But change has arrived for the bottom six forwards. Derek Ryan, Mattias Janmark, and Connor Brown make up the team's third line. The fourth line features the composition of Vasily Podkolzin, Adam Henrique, and Corey Perry.
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The change makes one thing clear to this writer: Knoblauch wants more from his bottom six. Evening out the personnel on the lines so they operate more as a 3A and 3B will only benefit the team.
Oilers Right-Handed Defender, Darnell Nurse?
The Oilers made a few interesting adjustments on defense. Travis Dermott will slot back into the lineup, and Ty Emberson will come out.
With that comes new combinations for the second and third pairings. Dermott will play with Darnell Nurse, while Brett Kulak and Troy Stecher will be the team's third defense pairing.
During the skate, Nurse took most of his reps on the right side. This is a change from how things have transpired with Dermott as his partner. Having two lefties in a pairing is tricky because it forces one of them to step outside of their comfort zone to play on the right.
That responsibility will fall on Nurse, as he looks to continue his recently strong play.
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