Edmonton Oilers Rest Vincent Desharnais, Start Troy Stecher vs. Canadiens

The Edmonton Oilers will be making lineup changes for their upcoming game against the Montreal Canadiens at Rogers Place. Defenceman Vincent Desharnais will be sidelined due to a nagging hand injury, allowing Troy Stecher to step in for the game.

Head Coach Kris Knoblauch explained that the decision to rest Desharnais was precautionary to ensure he has time to recover. This switch gives Stecher an opportunity to showcase his skills after playing 13 minutes in his Oilers debut last week.

Mattias Ekholm noted Stecher’s positive demeanor and expects him to be a valuable asset to the team. In Monday’s practice, Stecher was seen pairing with Darnell Nurse, his natural right side, a position that should allow him to better demonstrate his abilities.

Calvin Pickard is set to start in goal for the Oilers, taking over from Skinner. Pickard, with a 9-4-0 record this season, will aim to secure his 10th victory in an NHL season, a milestone he has not reached since 2016-17 with the Avalanche.

With the lineup changes and Pickard in goal, the Oilers are prepared to face the Canadiens with a mix of experienced and determined players aiming for a win at home.