In a thrilling matchup, Calvin Pickard will start for the Edmonton Oilers as they face the New Jersey Devils. This game marks the first of back-to-back contests against the Devils, taking place at Prudential Center. Joining the lineup, forward Curtis Lazar is set to make his debut with the Oilers against his former team.
Key Player Debut
Curtis Lazar, who previously spent three seasons with the Devils, signed with the Oilers during the offseason. He will play on the fourth line, alongside teammates David Tomasek and Adam Henrique. This game will be significant for Lazar as he dons the Blue & Orange for the first time.
Team Updates
- Winger Isaac Howard will be a healthy scratch for this match.
- Centre Noah Philp will also not participate in the game.
- Defencemen Alec Regula (upper body injury) and Jake Walman (undisclosed injury) are sidelined.
Calvin Pickard will make his second start of the season for the Oilers. He is expected to be replaced by Stuart Skinner in goal for the subsequent game against the Detroit Red Wings on Sunday at Little Caesars Arena.
Forward Line Changes
Head Coach Kris Knoblauch is making strategic adjustments to the Oilers’ lineup. During warmups, he shuffled the forward lines to maximize performance:
- The first line features Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Connor McDavid, and Andrew Mangiapane.
- Leon Draisaitl will return to center, flanked by Vasily Podkolzin and Kasperi Kapanen.
- The third line will see Trent Frederic centering Matt Savoie and Jack Roslovic.
As the Oilers prepare for their games against the Devils and Red Wings, these changes may play a crucial role in their performance on the ice. The excitement continues to build as these two critical matchups unfold.
