The Edmonton Oilers hit the practice ice yesterday, on their personal eve of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. While the city’s residents break out the car flags, orange pom-poms, and rally towels, we got a look at how the Oilers will line up against the Anaheim Ducks.
The lines, as reported by Bob Stauffer:
Hyman already returned; will Dickinson and Draisaitl follow?
A major jolt to the lineup was administered on Thursday, when Zach Hyman returned from injury. The Oilers promptly used that boost to thoroughly annihilate a Vancouver Canucks squad that, earlier in the week, gave both the Ducks and the Los Angeles Kings a hard time. Yet, major names still remained on the shelf, in Jason Dickinson and Leon Draisaitl.
It’s appearing all but certain Draisaitl will be in the lineup for Game 1, especially considering he also skated Thursday. Dickinson remains the bigger question mark, following his leg injury sustained against the San Jose Sharks. That injury was the direct result of being inadvertently hit by a shot attempt. By the sounds of it, his presence in the playoff lineup is all dependent on doctors’ clearance.
Even if either or both aren’t at exactly 100 percent yet, their lineup impact cannot be overstated. Possibly no other NHL team has the embarrassment of riches at centre that the Oilers do. Dickinson and Draisaitl make the Oilers the deepest team down the middle, while simultaneously allowing the team to try an assortment of forwards at different winger positions.
Their returns quite possibly make or break the Oilers Cup chances. The Oilers hung in there well against possible Conference Final opponent Colorado Avalanche without them. But the team might not go all the way to 16 wins in their absence.
How the Oilers’ lines this year compared to last year’s run
There’s some notable similarities and differences to the lineups that the Oilers started the 2025 run to the Stanley Cup Final with. This observer says “lineups” plural because multiple changes were made following the Game 1 disaster that Edmonton somehow nearly completed a comeback from.
So for due diligence’s sake, the Game 2 lineup is also included. Kudos to Adhi for the reminders:
Forwards eerily similar
The Game 1 top-six looks identical; the lone swap being Matt Savoie filling the void left by Connor Brown. Savoie has fully earned a spot on Connor McDavid’s flank, especially with his hat-trick against Vancouver. Hyman being back from injury offers familiarity for McDavid on the other wing.
But the second line is especially satisfying to see reunited, especially when you consider their performance last year. They gave up very little at 5v5, becoming a stout two-way trio the Oilers needed. They also combined for Kasperi Kapanen’s series winner against the Vegas Golden Knights, which the Oilers might need again this year.
The deeper lineup allows Edmonton to move Ryan Nugent-Hopkins to the left-wing with Dickinson’s re-entry, and Trent Frederic to the fourth line where Adam Henrique starts once again. Jack Roslovic and Colton Dach round out the starting forward group.
Defence is stronger than ever
Having Mattias Ekholm ready for Game 1, and not coming off a major injury, is massive for the Oilers. This defence corps might actually be the best the Oilers have iced in recent memory. Ekholm and Bouchard are dynamite together, even if Bouchard is prone to the occasional error. And Connor Murphy has been the elite “Darnell Nurse whisperer” that was desperately needed.
There’s almost no weak links in this group of six defenders. It’s so deep that Jake Walman can be placed on the third pair with Ty Emberson. Count this crew out at your own peril.
Be kind to the goalie who was huge in getting you to this point
There should be a proper re-hashing about the goalie situation here. Yes, we’ve been scarred by bad goaltending to some extent the past few playoff runs. But this observer will play the transit bus driver from The Simpsons if necessary.
If not for the re-emergence of Connor Ingram, there likely wouldn’t be a seventh consecutive playoff appearance to savour. The Tristan Jarry gamble should never have been executed at the price it ended up being given. Alas, GM Stan Bowman capitulated, and Jarry has been hit-or-miss, but with far more miss than hit.
Ingram, by comparison, has undeniably been the number one goalie since the Olympic break. A friendly reminder that, before the Utah transition, the Arizona Coyotes saw Ingram as their long-term starter, and oh by the way, he’s not even 30 yet. He’s shown everyone here that he’s still got that talent, that potential, to be the answer.
No matter what happens during this run, be willing to give Ingram the benefit of the doubt sometimes. We’ve already run through too many goalies. Let’s appreciate the one who came through when we needed him most.
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