Nugent-Hopkin was not at practice on Wednesday due to an illness, indicating he may be unavailable for Wednesday's game against the Boston Bruins. At practice, Warren Foegele and Ryan McLeod were elevated to top-six roles.
Skinner will return to the crease for the Oilers on Wednesday, his fifth start in their last six games. Skinner has recorded a sub-.900 SV% while allowing three or more goals in each of his last four games. That said, he saved 22 of 25 shots (.880 SV%) in a 6-3 win over the Arizona Coyotes on Monday. The Oilers enter action as -127 home favourites against a Boston Bruins club that defeated the Dallas Stars 4-3 in their last contest.
After their franchise-best 16-game win streak ended on February 6th, the Oilers have lost two of four (2-2-0), including a disappointing 6-3 loss to the St. Louis Blue on Thursday with Stuart Skinner between the pipes, and will turn to Pickard on Saturday afternoon. Pickard last played on February 9th, saving 24 of 27 shots (.889 SV%) in a 5-3 win over the Anaheim Ducks. The 31-year-old Pickard will attempt to extend his win streak to six games against the Dallas Stars.
Skinner snapped a two-game losing skid on Tuesday and will return to the crease on Thursday night. Skinner has allowed three or more goals in two straight contests (1-1-0) after previously going 12 without allowing more than (11-1-0). The Oilers are sizeable -224 home favourites against a St. Louis Blue team coming off a 4-1 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs on Tuesday night.
Skinner snapped a two-game losing skid on Tuesday and will return to the crease on Thursday night. Skinner has allowed three or more goals in two straight contests (1-1-0) after previously going 12 without allowing more than (11-1-0). The Oilers are sizeable -224 home favourites against a St. Louis Blue team coming off a 4-1 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs on Tuesday night.
Sam Gagner will be a healthy scratch on Thursday, allowing Janmark to re-enter the lineup. Before being a healthy scratch on Tuesday, Janmark had been a regular in the Oilers' lineup for the last several months but had done very little to contribute offensively, scoring only one point (0G / 1A) in his last 25 games.
The Coyotes gave Ingram a rare night off in their last outing in an attempt to snap a five-game losing skid but were unable to, losing 5-3 to the Philadelphia Flyers. The 26-year-old Ingram has allowed three or more goals in four straight (0-4-0), posting an ugly .857 SV%, well below his season average (.912 SV%). The Coyotes are slight -103 home underdogs against a Minnesota Wild club riding a three-game winning streak, including an impressive 5-3 victory over the Vegas Golden Knights on Monday.
After a franchise-best 16-game winning streak, the Oilers have lost two of their last three contests, both with Skinner between the pipes. Skinner will look to get back into the win column on Tuesday night as the Oilers are -220 home favourites against the Detroit Red Wings, who have points in four straight (3-0-1). Despite dropping his past two outings, Skinner has played respectably, allowing only five goals while posting a .900 SV%
After a franchise-best 16-game winning streak, the Oilers have lost two of their last three contests, both with Skinner between the pipes. Skinner will look to get back into the win column on Tuesday night as the Oilers are -220 home favourites against the Detroit Red Wings, who have points in four straight (3-0-1). Despite dropping his past two outings, Skinner has played respectably, allowing only five goals while posting a .900 SV%.
Sam Gagner will draw back into the lineup for the Oilers on Tuesday, resulting in Janmark being a healthy scratch. Janmark has been a regular in the Oilers' lineup for the last several months but has done very little to contribute offensively, scoring only one point (0G / 1A) in his last 25 games.
Kapenen has missed the Blues' previous seven games with a lower-body injury but is ready to return to the Blues' lineup Saturday after being activated from the Injured Reserve. The 27-year-old is in his second season in St. Louis and has struggled offensively with only four goals, 13 points, 65 SOG, six PIMs and a -6 plus/minus through 42 games before his injury.
Jones has not played since January 5th, missing 12 games with an upper-body injury, but will return to the lineup on Friday against the Edmonton Oilers. In 34 games this season, the 25-year-old Jones has eight points (4G / 4A).
The Oilers' franchise-best 16-game winning streak ended on Tuesday with a 3-1 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights, but they will attempt to get back into the win column with Pickard between the pipes on Friday. Pickard has been reliable when called upon between the pipes this season, including a 27-save shutout in his last outing, a 3-0 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks. Pickard and the Oilers have another favourable matchup on Friday as -266 road favourites against the Anaheim Ducks, fourth-worst in the league offensively (2.56 GF / GP).
Ingram will continue to lock down the Coyotes' crease as he makes his third straight start in the first game after Arizona's All-Star break. The 26-year-old was considered somewhat of an All-Star snub as he's broken out in his third NHL season with a 17-11-1 record, 2.61 GAA, .916 SV%, and five shutouts. He'll face the Vegas Golden Knights, who are riding a high after snapping Edmonton's 16-game win streak Tuesday and have won six of their last eight contest.
