They don’t call it the Wild, Wild West for nothing. Game 4 of the second round 2024 NHL Stanley Cup playoff series between the Vancouver Canucks and Edmonton Oilers looks to be meeting at high-noon, at the Saloon. Disclaimer, the game goes tonight at 7:30 PM local time from Rogers Arena in the Albertan capital city, Edmonton. Moreover, the big lineup news for the Oilers, is that Calvin Pickard gets the call in net tonight for the Oil.
Pickard in for Oilers vs Canucks for Game 4 Tonight
The last time Silovs & Pickard started against one another in the playoffs? Game 2 of last year's opening round when Abbotsford clashed with Bakersfield…Silovs got the win. Per @brandon_astle #Canucks #LetsGoOilers @TSNHockey
— Farhan Lalji (@FarhanLaljiTSN) May 14, 2024
The reason for the big setup for tonight’s game, was how Game 3 ended. The result was, two Canuck defenders were handed down supplementary discipline. Nikita Zadorov was handed down a $5,000 fine, while Carson Soucy will miss tonight’s game serving his one-game suspension. Drawing in for Soucy, will be Vancouver-area native, Noah Juulsen. Juulsen, 27, has one career playoff game under his belt, the Game 2, 4-1 loss to the Nashville Predators from last round. Additionally, look for rookie goalie Arturs Silovs to get the call between the pipes once again. Updates on Thatcher Demko have not been very regular, but for now, Silovs is getting the job done, and how. That’s the big headlines for the Canucks, but what about the Oilers?
NHL Predictions: May 14 w/ Vancouver Canucks vs Edmonton Oilers
Oilers Coach Knoblauch Pulling the Strings Ahead of Game 4 vs Canucks
Perhaps it is a little cat-and-mouse, as Edmonton Oilers Head Coach Kris Knoblauch attempts to deflect any of the potential distraction. Electing to go with Pickard in net, will keep his players focused on playing responsibly and disciplined. Also, it allows Stuart Skinner to get some rest and regroup, as there is plenty more series to go. Elliotte Friedman on 32 Thoughts the Podcast today, suggested that this decision goes back to last year. Specifically, he mentioned Skinner may exhibit poor body language following unfavourable results. The point is, this isn’t on Skinner, they need wins, they need to change something up, and don’t want a repeat of the 2023 playoffs.
In other lineup news, the Oilers Adam Henrique will miss his second consecutive game. Also, he missed Game 1 of the series. He is currently out with an undisclosed injury.
Henrique is out tonight.
— Ryan Rishaug (@TSNRyanRishaug) May 14, 2024
Nah, Nah, Nah, Nah, Nah, The Dynamic Duo, Separated, for Now
The last of the important lineup news for the Oilers involves none other than Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. Knoblauch told reporters to expect the two to be on different lines to start tonight’s game. Moreover, we were given an indication of the lines that each superstar will jump on. Look for McDavid to join Zach Hyman and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. This is the normal line for McDavid and the Oilers best from the regular season. According to moneypuck.com, in 468 minutes played together in the regular season, they had a remarkable, xGoals% of 66.6. In contrast, Draisaitl tends to be a bit more of a jack-of-all-trades on the Oilers line schemes. Tonight expect him to centre Evander Kane and Dylan Holloway. This might be a way to get Kane going, as he has two goals and two assists through eight games in this year’s playoffs thus far. The tough and speedy winger can however go off at any time. Knoblauch hopes it is on the scoresheet tonight in Edmonton.
Main photo credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports
