Oilers going with extra defenceman, 1 fewer forward vs. Rangers

Edmonton Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch looks on from the bench with Leon Draisaitl (29) and Connor McDavid (97) during the third period in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup final against the Florida Panthers in Sunrise, Fla., on Monday, June 9, 2025.

They’re searching for a way to keep the momentum from their latest win, and one way the Edmonton Oilers will try to do that Thursday night is by running one less forward and one more defenceman than usual.

• The information you need to know, sent directly to you: Download the CTV News App

The Oilers (5-4-2) will dress 11 forwards and seven defencemen to take on the New York Rangers, as they did in Tuesday’s 6-3 win over the Utah Mammoth, head coach Kris Knoblauch said after the team’s morning skate.

The Rangers (4-5-2) are coming into Rogers Place following their 2-0 win Tuesday over the host Vancouver Canucks.

Knoblauch, the third-year Oilers bench boss, told media that for the players currently in the lineup, “11 (forwards) works better for the flow and getting everyone involved.”

That’s because star centremen Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl have been taking regular turns killing penalties, something new this season.

Knoblauch also pointed to winger Vasily Podkolzin early in the season playing less than usual.

“That’s not enough for a guy like that,” the coach said, saying the Russian – who isn’t currently a part of either the power play or penalty kill – was getting 10 to 12 minutes a game at the start of the National Hockey League campaign.

“We’ve got enough forwards that can double shift, get a little more ice time,” Knoblauch said.

“We’ve got enough specialty players for penalty kill (and) power play, (so we) don’t need that extra forward. We did it the other day, we’re doing it today. I’m not sure we’re going to do it Saturday, but it’s something where getting all the forwards involved in the game (is) much easier, actually, with 11 than it is 12, just with the players we have right now.”

Projected Oilers lineup

Forward

• Ryan Nugent-Hopkins • Connor McDavid • Andrew Mangiapane
• Vasily Podkolzin • Leon Draisaitl • Jack Roslovic
• Matt Savoie • Adam Henrique • Trent Frederic
• Ike Howard • David Tomasek

Defence

• Mattias Ekholm • Evan Bouchard
• Darnell Nurse • Jake Walman
• Brett Kulak • Ty Emberson

Goal

• Stuart Skinner • Calvin Pickard