The Edmonton Oilers are looking for a split on the road Thursday after getting trounced by the Florida Panthers in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup final.
The Panthers dominated their first home game of the finals on Monday, winning 6-1 to take the series lead after two tight overtime games in Edmonton.
Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch is shuffling the team’s lineup as he looks to bounce back, bringing Troy Stecher in to replace John Klingberg on defence and Jeff Skinner to step in for Viktor Arvidsson up front.
Stuart Skinner will get the start in goal, despite speculation that backup Calvin Pickard might draw in after Skinner allowed five goals on 23 shots Monday.
Skinner has traditionally been stellar in Game 4s, with a 6-0 record including two shutouts and a .955 save percentage.
Knoblauch also appears to be changing up his forward line combinations, bumping Connor Brown up to the top line to play with Connor McDavid and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, who missed Tuesday’s practice due to an undisclosed injury but is still expected to suit up.
Things went Florida’s way from the outset in the penalty-ridden Game 3, with the team scoring early and holding the lead throughout.
Tempers boiled over in the third period Monday, with scuffles carrying on outside of the play and past the final buzzer.
Florida winger A.J. Greer stole Oilers defenceman Jake Walman’s glove and threw it into the Panthers’ bench in the second period, and Walman squirted water on the opposing bench in retaliation.
The NHL fined Walman $5,000 for the spray, and another $5,000 for punching Panthers forward Matthew Tkachuk in the third period.
A Panthers fan was also seen dumping a drink on Oilers forward Kasperi Kapanen on his way to the dressing room in the third, in a video that generated much chatter online.
Game 4 coverage starts at 8pm ET/6pm MT.
