Edmonton Oilers look to be scratching one of their regular defenders for the first time for Game 2.
Edmonton Oilers look to be scratching one of their regular defenders for the first time for Game 2.
EDMONTON -- If you have an itch, scratch it.
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The Edmonton Oilers have an itch for the Stanley Cup. They need to beat the Florida Panthers (and themselves) in order to lift Lord Stanley high.
Oilers' head coach Kris Knoblauch spoke about making a big change yesterday, an itch that could lead to a "scratch" today. When the Oilers took to the ice this morning, the line combinations suggested that a few changes could happen in the immediate future.
Evander Kane was not on the ice. This is unsurprising, as he has been dealing with a sports hernia all season. Adam Henrique in his spot on the second line raises an eyebrow or two. This could suggest that Kane will not be available for Game two.
Henrique and Leon Draisaitl were paired up toward the end of the season. Henrique thrived in the position, adding several goals to his totals for the year.
The most fascinating switch is Cody Ceci out for Vincent Desharnais. Ceci was skating with extra defender Phil Kemp, while Desharnais was paired with Darnell Nurse.
Changing one pairing instead of several makes a lot of sense. It also lines up with Knoblauch's general posture of not tinkering with lines too much.
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There's no doubt that Desharnais is eager to get back into the game action. It's time for both players to show that they can elevate their game when the rubber meets the road.
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