Injury forces Oilers to shuffle lines

On December 24, 2024By Littum

EDMONTON — Ruh-roh.

Everyone typically loves surprises. As long as a surprise brings good news, there is nothing to worry about. But when that surprise is the news that one of the best players won’t play, it’s the wrong kind of surprise.

When the Edmonton Oilers took the ice for warmups tonight against the Ottawa Senators, they were without Ryan Nugent-Hopkins.

The @EdmontonOilers heating:

Arvidsson-McDavid-Hyman
Podkolzin-Draisaitl-Kapanen
Janmark-Henrique-Brown
J. Skinner-Ryan-Perry

Ekholm-Bouchard
Nurse Stecher
Kulak-Emberson

S. Skinner
Pickard

— Bob Stauffer (@Bob_Stauffer) 23 December 2024

With Nugent-Hopkins out of the lineup, head coach Kris Knoblauch shuffled the lines.

Taking over the Nugent-Hopkins spot on the top line is the recently returned Viktor Arvidsson. For the third line, he has chosen to reunite the trio of Mattias Janmark, Adam Henrique and Connor Brown.

Derek Ryan retires to the lineup and will center Jeff Skinner and Corey Perry on the fourth line. The second line of Vasily Podkolzin and Kasperi Kapanen centered by Leon Draisaitl remains intact.

Nugent-Hopkins’ absence leaves a gap at even strength. His absence also leaves a big hole on the power play and penalty kill. When the Oilers have a power play, I would expect Knoblauch to roll out two defensemen or maybe give one of Podkolzin, Kapanen or Perry an option. With the penalty kill, Arvidsson, Henrique and Ryan will make up the missing minutes.

In 33 games, Nugent-Hopkins has 18 points while averaging 19:20 of ice time a game.

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