Oilers and Blue Jackets Gear Up for Exciting Matchup
Tonight, the Edmonton Oilers are set to host the Columbus Blue Jackets in what promises to be an intense NHL showdown. The puck drops at 8:30 p.m. Eastern Time, and fans on Prime and FDSNOH will be tuning in to see if the Oilers can secure another win on home ice. Both teams are coming off mixed starts to the season, with the Blue Jackets sitting at 7-7-0 and the Oilers at 6-6-4, so momentum will be key.
For the Blue Jackets, some lineup adjustments have been made due to a lingering illness in the dressing room. Miles Wood, Cole Sillinger, Mathieu Olivier, and Sean Monahan all missed the morning skate, leaving Coach Dean Evason with a few game-time decisions to make. Their projected lineup features Wood, Monahan, and Kent Johnson on the top line, while Dmitri Voronkov, Adam Fantilli, and Kirill Marchenko make up the second line. The defense will be anchored by Zach Werenski and Denton Mateychuk, Ivan Provorov and Damon Severson, with Jake Christiansen paired with Dante Fabbro. In goal, Jet Greaves is expected to start, with Elvis Merzlikins backing him up.
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On the Oilers’ side, coach Kris Knoblauch has confirmed a few roster updates. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins will be sidelined for about a week, and Zach Hyman remains out with a wrist injury, while Kasperi Kapanen is recovering from a knee issue. Season debutant Mattias Janmark will join the lineup after missing the first 16 games, and Curtis Lazar is stepping in for David Tomasek. The Oilers’ projected top line features Andrew Mangiapane, Connor McDavid, and Matt Savoie, with Leon Draisaitl flanked by Vasily Podkolzin and Jack Roslovic on the second line. Isaac Howard, Adam Henrique, and Trent Frederic form the third line, while Janmark, Noah Philp, and Lazar round out the fourth. The defensive pairings include Mattias Ekholm with Evan Bouchard, Darnell Nurse with Alec Regula, and Brett Kulak with Jake Walman. Stuart Skinner is expected to start in goal, with Calvin Pickard ready as backup.
Coach Knoblauch has emphasized that the Oilers are aiming to find more consistency, especially in their net-front presence, which has been cited as a reason for their slow start. McDavid, as always, is expected to lead the charge offensively, and fans will be watching to see if he can spark the team in tonight’s matchup.
Both teams are managing injuries and lineup uncertainties, making this game unpredictable and exciting. The Oilers hope to rally in front of their home crowd, while the Blue Jackets are looking to gain ground in a tightly contested early-season standings battle. Expect a fast-paced, hard-hitting game with plenty of scoring chances and strategic adjustments from both coaches as the night unfolds.
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