EDMONTON -- A new coat of paint can work wonders.
For the Edmonton Oilers lineup after the 4 Nations Face-off break, they are slapping on more than just a new coat of paint. They have put together a new forward line that should have Oilers fans foaming at the mouth.
On Wednesday morning, Kris Knoblauch assembled a line featuring Leon Draisaitl, Vasily Podkolzin, and Matt Savoie. This line has the makings of being splendid for the Oilers.
For starters, fans already know that Draisaitl enjoys playing with Podkolzin. The Russian winger has a skillset that compliments Draisaitl. He forechecks hard, battles along the boards, and is not afraid to finish his checks.
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EDMONTON -- Winning gives the luxury of time.
Savoie now comes into the picture. He plays the game with pace and is also a great forechecker. Additionally, he is more offensively gifted than Podkolzin, which should make him a great compliment for this line.
Podkolzin has been a streaky point producer this season. However, he's always brought the same work ethic and energy to his game. He only has two points in his last 10 games but is well on his way to a new career-high in points once this season ends. Podkolzin also leads the team in hits with 118, a metric he has had a stranglehold on all season.
The young forward is having a good year in the AHL. In 45 games, he has 13 goals and 24 assists for 37 points. He is 32nd overall in scoring but third in rookie scoring.
If this is the Oilers' second line for Saturday's game against the Philadelphia Flyers, fans should jump for joy. Everyone's skills complement those of their linemates.
Now, it's just a matter of waiting to see if this is the line combination Knoblauch chooses or if he has another trick up his sleeve.
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