Oilers Make Several Changes Prior To Tonight’s Game 3 In Winnipeg

We asked for changes. We got changes.

*cracks knuckles

Which one of these is the second line?

• Line one stays the same. The Oilers are loading up on the top line, and I get it, I just don’t like it. It’s a super line. You’ve got the top two scorers in the league with Puljujarvi, the only goal scorer for the Oilers so far this series. It’s great if it cashes.
• Which one of these lines is the second line? Is it RNH - McLeod - Kassian? If this is what helps get Zack Kassian going, I’m for it. Real line blender stuff. RNH is the only reason this could reasonably be construed as the second line. I’d probably put Leon Draisaitl on this line, and would entertain running McLeod as a RW.
• I feel safe in reasoning that Shore-Khaira-Archibald is the only third line here. Archibald has been a real energy player for the Oilers over the past two games, though it hasn’t translated to anything on the scoresheet. Devin Shore comes in for James Neal, which is probably an upgrade at this juncture. Of note, Dominik Kahun doesn’t appear on this line card.
• The second line might be Ennis - Haas - Yamamoto. I’ve got a vibe that this could start the game as the fourth line, but may well end up as the second line depending on how it goes. It’s fast, and that’s what’s needed.

On defence, Nurse is with Bear (which is the correct call). There’s still no Caleb Jones, but Tyson Barrie gets paired with Slater Koekkoek. This is reasonable, I’d expect Barrie to play as much power play time as allowed.