Yahoo Sports Oilers' Strong Lineup Can Sink Floundering Penguins
The Oilers' lineup carousel has stopped, for now.
Despite trying out some new defence pairs at today's morning skate, head coach Kris Knoblauch confirms that they'll ice the same lineup tonight in Pittsburgh as they did in their win in Boston on Tuesday.
Knoblauch said they were just trying something out.
Same lineup as BOS, he said. https://t.co/MPZ5cHZKuw— Daniel Nugent-Bowman (@DNBsports) January 9, 2025
That means tonight's lineup will be as follows:
Ryan Nugent Hopkins - Connor McDavid - Connor Brown
Vasily Podkolzin - Leon Draisaitl - Viktor Arvidsson
Jeff Skinner - Adam Henrique - Zach Hyman
Kasperi Kapanen - Mattias Janmark - Corey Perry
Mattias Ekholm - Evan Bouchard
Darnell Nurse - Brett Kulak
Ty Emberson - Josh Brown
Stuart Skinner
Those lines worked wonders on Tuesday, dismantling the Bruins in a 4-0 win that set off alarm bells across New England. They'll get the chance to do the same in western Pennsylvania tonight, facing a Penguins team that's lost four straight, the last three of which coming in overtime or the shootout.
WINNING VIEWS FROM THE BENCH! 🤩 pic.twitter.com/dANGe3Z7kN
— Columbus Blue Jackets (@BlueJacketsNHL) January 8, 2025
The Penguins are one of a few veteran Eastern Conference teams in crisis, with a 17-17-8 record in what was supposed to be a last hurrah of sorts for Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and co.
The Oilers have beaten up on this demographic all season long, with a 5-0 record against the Bruins, Penguins, Rangers, and Islanders. They beat the Penguins 4-0 when they last met on October 25th, the middle of what would become a six-game losing streak for Pittsburgh.
Riding a four-game win streak into Pittsburgh, the Oilers are in perfect position to extend that streak and put some distance between themselves and the Los Angeles Kings in the Pacific Division. They currently sit second in the division, two points ahead of the Kings but with two more games played. They're six points back of their ultimate goal of first in the division, held by the Vegas Golden Knights.
The puck will drop between the Oilers and Penguins at 5:00 MT, at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh.
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