Tristan Jarry to Start as Oilers Battle Blackhawks for Pacific Division Top Spot
EDMONTON, AB – The Edmonton Oilers will turn to goaltender Tristan Jarry between the pipes tonight as they face the Chicago Blackhawks at Rogers Place. This crucial matchup presents an opportunity for the Oilers to climb into a tie for first place in the highly competitive Pacific Division.
Frederic Returns, Hyman a Game-Time Decision
Adding to the team’s dynamic, forward Trent Frederic is set to return to the lineup after recovering from an injury that sidelined him for the past five games. Frederic expressed his eagerness to get back on the ice, stating, “I’m just excited to get playing again. I think it was not ideal to take a break. I thought I was playing well, but we did a lot of good stuff, and I think I’m in better shape than I was before.”
However, the Oilers will have a late decision to make regarding forward Zach Hyman, who was a non-participant in Wednesday’s practice. Head Coach Kris Knoblauch will assess Hyman’s condition before game time.
Jarry Back in Net After Oilers’ Winning Streak
Jarry will be making his first start since March 24th, when he secured a 5-2 victory over the Utah Grizzlies with 16 saves. Connor Ingram has been stellar during the Oilers’ current four-game win streak, including a 3-0 shutout against Seattle on Tuesday. Knoblauch emphasized Jarry’s readiness, saying, “Just build on his last game. I thought he was very solid…he’s had a lot of time to work on his game and just kind of reset.”
New Additions Strengthening Oilers’ Defence
The Oilers have bolstered their defensive capabilities with the recent acquisitions of Connor Murphy and Jason Dickinson. Both players will be facing their former team, the Chicago Blackhawks, for the first time as members of the Oilers. Knoblauch highlighted the impact of these additions, stating, “We wanted to get better defensively, and we have…Those two have really solidified our identity of how we want to play.” Colton Dach, also acquired from Chicago, remains day-to-day with an injury.
Pacific Division Race Heats Up
A win tonight would move the Oilers into a tie for first place in the Pacific Division with the Anaheim Ducks, with Edmonton holding the tiebreaker due to more regulation wins. Dickinson emphasized the importance of focusing on each game, saying, “I think the biggest thing is to focus on today. Win the two points and then see where it takes you.”
Projected Lineup
Here’s the projected lineup for the Oilers against the Blackhawks, based on Wednesday’s practice:
- Forwards:
- Podkolzin – McDavid – Savoie
- Hyman – Nugent-Hopkins – Roslovic
- Frederic – Dickinson – Kapanen
- Jones – Henrique – Samanski
- Defencemen:
- Ekholm – Bouchard
- Nurse – Murphy
- Walman – Emberson
- Goaltenders:
- Jarry
- Ingram
Stay tuned for confirmation during warm-ups.
