© 2022 Derek Leung

CALGARY, AB – The Edmonton Oilers are expected to deploy the same lines from Thursday’s win over Nashville when they face the Flames on Sunday night in the Battle of Alberta at Scotiabank Saddledome.

As per Head Coach Kris Knoblauch following Saturday’s practice, there’s a “good chance” the Oilers will feature the same lines that dominated the Predators earlier this week to the tune of a 5-1 victory at Bridgestone Arena.

Leon Draisaitl had two goals and an assist, raising his career dominance over Nashville to 46 points (27 goals) in 28 career games, while Viktor Arvidsson scored his first for the Oilers against the team he spent seven seasons with after they drafted him in 2014.

Noah Philp played in his first NHL game and registered his first point with an assist, and Zach Hyman got off the mark with his first goal in 11 appearances, ending his slump this season by helping the Oilers make up for the absence of Connor McDavid from the lineup.

“Every team goes through injuries. It’s unfortunate we don’t have the best player in the world because he’s not playing, but I think it gives everybody in the room an opportunity to step up and play a little better,” Hyman said on Saturday.

“That’s a good thing for this team. If everybody’s playing a little bit better and you’re adding Connor McDavid to the lineup when he comes back, the hope is he comes back to a better team than he left.”

The Oilers are beginning back-to-back games on Sunday, which will conclude on home ice Monday at Rogers Place against the Devils, so Knoblauch says it’s likely they’ll make minor changes to the lineup either before tonight or tomorrow’s games with two extra skaters at their disposal.

Centre Noah Philp is expected to retain his position on the fourth line tonight between Corey Perry and Drake Caggiula over Derek Ryan, who would presumably draw in on Monday against the Devils if that were the chosen path by Knoblauch and his coaching staff.

The bench boss has also said that he doesn’t want players out of the lineup for too long, leading to his decision on Thursday to return defenceman Travis Dermott back to the blueline versus Nashville instead of Troy Stecher.

Dermott was a healthy scratch for three straight games, and when the Oilers wrap up their back-to-back at home on Monday, there could be rotation on the back end that potentially includes Ty Emberson as well.

Goaltender Stuart Skinner is your expected Oilers starter against Calgary, with Pickard projected to play the second half versus New Jersey on Monday.

View the Oilers Projected Lineup vs. Calgary below:

Forwards

Podkolzin – Draisaitl – Arvidsson
Skinner – Nugent-Hopkins – Hyman
Janmark – Henrique – Brown
Caggiula – Philp – Perry

Defence

Ekholm – Bouchard
Nurse – Dermott
Kulak – Emberson

Goalies

Skinner
Pickard