The Edmonton Oilers are looking to get back to their winning ways in Philadephia when they take on the Flyers Thursday.
With some lineup modifications to accommodate for injured defensemen, the Oilers look prepared to take a win against the Flyers. Without further ado, here’s everything you need to know.
Projected Lines
Here are the projected line combinations against Philadephia.
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Forwards:
Milan Lucic-Connor McDavid-Leon Drasiaitl
Patrick Maroon-Ryan Nugent-Hopkins-Jordan Eberle
Zack Kassian-Drake Caggiula-Jesse Puljujarvi
Matt Hendricks-Mark Letestu-Tyler Pitlick
Defense:
Kris Russell-Adam Larsson
Andrej Sekera-Matthew Benning
Oscar Klefbom-Dillon Simpson
Goalies:
Jonas Gustavsson will get the start between the pipes for the Oilers Thursday, and Cam Talbot will back up. This is a smart decision for an Oilers team that needs to rest its starter.
Keys to Victory
If the Oilers want to win, they need to get off to an early start against the Flyers. They are a tough and physical team to play against and are having a fairly strong start to the season. Edmonton needs to have momentum and energy from the get-go and get pucks on net early.
In addition, Simpson is going to have to play a strong, aware game on the blueline in his NHL debut. He is a plus-15 and 38 points through 140 AHL games. He and Benning could be paired together, which could make for an interesting combination of two former Spruce Grove Saints.
Edmonton needs to effectively clear out bodies in front of the crease, and look out for Wayne Simmonds and Claude Giroux. If they do this, they will have no trouble shutting down Philadephia’s offense.
Players to Watch
Two young defensemen with a lot of offensive stride in their game, Gostisbehere and Simpson are dangerous blueliners who can do a lot of damage. With Simpson making his debut, his performance will mean a lot for Edmonton.
The puck drops at Wells Fargo Centre in Philadelphia at 5 p.m. MT.
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