Oilers vs Ducks: Lineups, TV info, game time, tonight's storyline, and discussion thread

Game Details

Edmonton Oilers Record: 30-41-7
Anaheim Ducks Record: 41-23-10
Puck Drop: 7:00PM MST
Television: Sportsnet West
Radio: 630 CHED
The Opposing View: Anaheim Calling

Tonight's Storyline

Yesterday it came out that Nail Yakupov, through his agent, asked that the Oilers try to move him prior to the NHL’s trade deadline. This news is both interesting and not at all shocking at the same time. The way that the team has utilized Yakupov during his time in Edmonton has been questionable at best and the results have been less than stellar. As a result I’m not in the least bit surprised that he’d interested in seeing if he can reboot his career somewhere else and, for the right price, I think the Oilers would be happy to oblige him.

It is somewhat puzzling though that the Oilers have done so little to try and maximize the value of this asset. I really have no issue with Oilers management deciding that it’s in the best interest of both parties if they go their separate ways, but the way they’ve chosen to utilize him does nothing to acknowledge the fact that he does still have some value around the league, and that, if used in favourable situations, could bring back a little more than expected. This team’s fascination with selling low is something that I will never understand.

Line Combinations

From dailyfaceoff.com:

Taylor Hall - Leon Draisaitl - Nail Yakupov
Patrick Maroon - Connor McDavid - Jordan Eberle
Lauri Korpikoski - Mark Letestu - Iiro Pakarinen
Matt Hendricks - Anton Lander - Zack Kassian

Andrej Sekera - Mark Fayne
Darnell Nurse - Adam Clendening
Jordan Oesterle - Griffin Reinhart

Cam Talbot