Edmonton Oilers
Knoblauch’s Not-So-Bold Lineup Fix Is Working Wonders for Oilers
Uncover the reasons behind the Oilers forward lines’ new combinations that have brought a shift in performance and results.
After weeks of juggling his lineup, Edmonton Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch seems to have found a mix that’s clicking. Through the first nine games of the season, Knoblauch became known for mixing up his lines so often that even he admitted there was no good way to get an analytical read on his combinations. His constant shuffling of forward lines had become so routine that fans and analysts almost stopped asking who would play with whom. It just became normal to look at the lines from morning practice and know that’s who the team was running with… until they weren’t.
Something switched. Saying he thought he finally had his players “in the right chairs”, he’s stuck with the same forward line combinations over the past four games. Perhaps not coincidentally, the Oilers have started putting up points. Imagine that.
Like any team that shuffles its fourth line around — mostly because certain players come in and out of the lineup — with the same top three lines, the Oilers have collected five of six possible points in their last three outings. Over those games, Edmonton has 13 goals: a 6–3 win over Utah, a 4–3 overtime loss to the Rangers, and a 3–2 OT victory over Chicago. That’s an average of 4.33 goals per game, easily in the top 10 across the league in that time span.
The line getting the most attention is the second line: Leon Draisaitl, Jack Roslovic, and Vasily Podkolzin. They have found chemistry, and the trio has outscored opponents 5–0 in just 52 even-strength minutes. Their skills complement each other. Draisaitl’s elite playmaking and scoring ability is all-worldly and it’s becoming clear that Roslovic’s speed and skill is well above average. The work done by Podkolzin to forecheck, grind, and dig pucks out works well for the other two.
The top line has work to do as Connor McDavid, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, and Andrew Mangiapane haven’t exactly clicked as a trio, but it should come with time. If it doesn’t, the good news is that Zach Hyman is set to join that line this week.
The third line of Adam Henrique, Trent Frederic, and Matt Savoie seems to be steady both offensively and defensively. They’re getting looks, and the hope is that some scoring will come, giving the Oilers a third threat.
Next test is St. Louis, where the Oilers aim to keep the momentum going on Monday night and pick up another two points.
Next: Oilers Trying to Find “Soft Landing” Trade For Popular Defenseman
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