Oilers Adjust Lineup for Crucial Game Against Canucks

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – The Edmonton Oilers will deploy an unconventional lineup of 11 forwards and seven defensemen in their final game of a three-game road trip against the Vancouver Canucks at Rogers Arena on Saturday night. Head Coach Kris Knoblauch confirmed the adjustment, citing the need to counter the Canucks’ speed and rush offense.

Knoblauch did not disclose which forward will be scratched but revealed that defenseman Josh Brown will serve as the seventh defenseman. The decision comes as the Oilers aim to tighten their defensive structure against a high-powered Canucks attack.

Defenseman John Klingberg, who has been sidelined for an extended period, will not join the team in Vancouver. The 32-year-old is traveling to Edmonton and is expected to practice with the Oilers for the first time on Monday. Knoblauch emphasized that Klingberg’s return to NHL game speed will take time. “He hasn’t played for a long time,” Knoblauch said. “He hasn’t had a training camp. He’s been skating for an extremely long period of time, but to get up to NHL speed, it’ll take a while. So we don’t have a timeline when he’ll play.”

The Oilers’ projected lineup includes key players such as Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. The team’s official roster will be confirmed during warm-ups ahead of the 8:07 p.m. MT puck drop.

Edmonton enters the game looking to close out their road trip on a high note, while Vancouver aims to capitalize on their home-ice advantage. The matchup is critical for both teams as they jockey for playoff positioning in the competitive Western Conference.