Injury Forces Oilers To Shuffle Lines

EDMONTON -- Ruh-roh.

Everyone typically loves surprises. As long as a surprise brings good news, there is nothing to worry about. However, when that surprise is the news that one of the best players will not be playing, that's the wrong kind of surprise.

When the Edmonton Oilers took to the ice for warm-ups tonight against the Ottawa Senators, they were without Ryan Nugent-Hopkins.

With Nugent-Hopkins out of the lineup, head coach Kris Knoblauch shuffled the lines.

Taking over Nugent-Hopkins spot on the top line is the newly returned Viktor Arvidsson. For the third line, he has elected to reunite the trio of Mattias Janmark, Adam Henrique, and Connor Brown.

Derek Ryan draws back into the lineup and will center Jeff Skinner and Corey Perry on the fourth line. The second line of Vasily Podkolzin and Kasperi Kapanen centered by Leon Draisaitl remains intact.

Nugent-Hopkins's absence leaves a hole at even strength. His absence also leaves a major hole on the power play and penalty kill. Whenever the Oilers have a power play, I'd expect Knoblauch to roll two defenders out or maybe give one of Podkolzin, Kapanen, or Perry an opportunity. With the penalty kill, Arvidsson, Henrique, and Ryan will make up the missing minutes.

In 33 games, Nugent-Hopkins has 18 points while averaging 19:20 of ice time a game.

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