With their backs against the wall, it’s now or never for the Edmonton Oilers who are heading into game three of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs down 2–0 in the series. Game two was going to be different right? Not! The Oilers got torched again by the Los Angeles Kings, this time 6–2 thanks to three more Power play goals. The Oilers were able to rally back to make it a 3–2 game, but that was quickly brought back to reality as the Kings took over and did not look back.
With another lacklustre effort in Game 2, let’s take a look at what is staying the same yet again, in the lineup for tonight’s all or nothing game.
Going “Nuclear” is the only option now
Yet again, the Edmonton Oilers will be relying heavily on that one-two punch, as they are set to go nuclear tonight. With the series playing out the way that it has so far, it’s starting to look like the Oilers are running out of answers, hence them being stuck with using the nuclear option.
He was back for game two, in the top-six and did not look all that great, posting two penalty minutes and just one shot in 14:46 of ice time. Kane is now set to play on the third line beside Adam Henrique and Connor Brown.
Trent Frederic is being cycled all throughout the Oilers lineup right now. He is set to be moved down from the third line in Game 2, to the bottom line for Game 3. He will be playing with Janmark and Perry, with the latter having played on the top line with McDavid and Draisaitl in Game 2.
Both Podkolzin and Arvidsson played on the bottom line in Game 2, and now it looks like they will be playing alongside Nugent-Hopkins on the second line for Game 3. What will this be like for the two of them not playing with Leon Draisaitl?
Calvin Pickard starting in goal
Stuart Skinner has not looked good at all through the Oilers first two games. Not only has he allowed a whopping 11 goals Skinner is statistically the worst goalie in the postseason right now.
It’s not a surprise after how the Oilers managed the series against the Vancouver Canucks last year, but it is now up to Calvin Pickard to turn the tides for the team as he gets the start in Oil Country tonight.
Edmonton Oilers projected lineup for game 3
Edmonton Oilers lineup thoughts
There is really nothing left that can be said for the Edmonton Oilers and how the team has “not” performed to start the series. I thought that it would be interesting to mention that Adrian Kempe, Andrei Kuzmenko and Anze Kopitar have put up seven, five and five points respectively in just two games played. It’s up to the team as a whole, to lock in and play for each other, if they even want a chance to slow these three down and tie the series up.
With quite a few holes in the blue line, the defence did not look any better in game 2, and not having Mattias Ekholm is really proving pivotal in the Oilers defensive structure. What needs to change to help prevent the Kings from being able to score at will?
It is now “all or nothing” and tonight, we will see how Oil Country can pump up the home team and if we can see the Oilers get their first win of the series, this time on home ice.
