After a disappointing 6–4 loss in game 2 (which is possibly the first time a rotisserie chicken caused a game-changing momentum swing), the Oilers head to Anaheim trying to regain the series lead.
As coaches tend to do, coach Kris Knoblauch has made some tweaks to the lines ahead of game 3.
Edmonton Oilers projected lineup for Game 3 of Round 1
The team looks to run the same players as game 3, but with one big lineup change. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Matt Savoie have swapped places, with the Oilers reuniting Nuge with Connor McDavid and Zach Hyman.
Is Ryan Nugent-Hopkins the key to unlocking Connor McDavid?
Connor McDavid has yet to register a point this series. McDavid has only gone pointless for two straight games once this year, so needless to say, this is unusual.
McDavid has not looked like his superhuman playoff self, and had a brutal turnover last game to put the Oilers behind 4–2. He also looked injured at one point, although he did return.
McDavid and Savoie showed good chemistry to end the regular season, but so far that production hasn’t followed in the postseason.
Given the above, it makes sense that the Oilers are swapping Nugent-Hopkins with Savoie, even if Nugent-Hopkins hasn’t looked all that great either.
Last playoffs, McDavid, Nugent-Hopkins and Hyman were the team’s first line, and they were a big part of the team’s success.
With the Ducks getting the last change tonight as the home team, “loading” up the first line (depending on your view of Nugent-Hopkins’ current play) should help deal with the matchup issues. It also allows Savoie to maybe get some weaker competition playing on the third line, which could kickstart his young playoff career.
Is this the right decision by the team, or is it a panic move? Is there a better way to try to get Connor McDavid going? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
