September 28, 2022 by Ryan Lotsberg

Jay Woodcroft didn’t divulge his lineup for tonight’s preseason game against the Calgary Flames during his media availability this afternoon, so I’m going to take a stab at creating the lineup based on what Woodcroft did say this afternoon and based on some good old hunches.

Woodcroft said that it’s common for there to be a disparity between the number of regular NHLers dressed between teams in preseason games, much like Monday’s game in Seattle. He said that tonight is “…an opportunity for some individuals to create a little separation in their battles to make the team… I look at tonight as nothing other than a great opportunity for some individuals, but also for our team to take a step and we’re going in there and we’re going to give a real good effort.”

Later, he said that tonight “…is an opportunity. It’s an opportunity to command ice time… We said that right from day one that there were jobs here, but more than that there’s ice time here, and there’s privileged or special teams ice time available. You could put people in positions to show you what they can do and we’re going to try to make the best decisions possible based on the information they give us throughout the preseason.”

Don’t expect any of the big guns to play tonight. I don’t expect them to play any road games because like Woodcroft said today, teams tend to dress stronger lineups for home games in the preseason. The penalty kill was a focus at camp this week, and it’s the bottom of the roster players that typically penalty kill. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Ryan McLeod, Kailer Yamamoto, and Derek Ryan are the forwards that typically killed penalties under Woodcroft last year. Jesse Puljujarvi and Warren Foegele are getting more penalty killing time this preseason. Dylan Holloway has also been killing penalties during camp thus far like he did in Penticton.

Foegele spoke to the media today, so I’m writing his name in the lineup in pen. He played with McLeod in the first preseason game and he spoke about being paired with McLeod and asking him questions about Woodcroft’s penalty killing system today, so I imagine that McLeod will play with Foegele tonight. Jason Gregor also suggested that they would play together tonight, and Foegele didn’t correct him.

One of Ryan or Mattias Janmark will need to be put on waivers and buried for the Oilers to become cap compliant if we’re to accept the proposed roster that would put the Oilers $167 under the cap. Ryan killed penalties last year, and Janmark killed penalties for Vegas. I believe that Janmark will get this game tonight, and I think he will play left wing with McLeod centering and Foegele on right wing.

I expect that Holloway will play tonight as well. I would put Holloway in the category of players that could create some separation in his battle to make the team tonight. He kills penalties, and he can play on the powerplay on a weaker roster like the one being sent to Calagry tonight.

Devin Shore is in a battle for the fourth line center spot with Brad Malone and Greg McKegg. I’m going out on a limb and saying that all three will play tonight. Shore is the most established NHLer of the three, but his hold on a roster spot is tenuous. I’m going to put Shore on the second line with Holloway.

Xavier Bourgault has had a good camp so far, and I believe that the Oilers want to give him more than the one preseason game he got last season. He played with Holloway at the Young Stars tournament in Penticton, so let’s see what they can do together against stronger competition.

It’s not expected to be an NHL heavy lineup tonight. This is game three of eight, which means that cuts have to start happening soon. The Oilers will likely want to get down to the last group of cuts by the start of next week before their last three exhibition games. There are two young wingers that haven’t got a game yet that I believe will get a game. 

Matvei Petrov was dangerous in the Fan Day scrimmage referred to by Woodcroft. I believe that he’s earned one preseason game based on his play in the OHL last season and his strong showing in that scrimmage. That game needs to happen soon before the inevitable cuts happen. The junior cuts have been made already, and Petrov could potentially be another of those. They need to see how he handles this level of competition. What better night than tonight.

Ty Tullio was bagned up in Penticton, but he did play in the Fan Day scrimmage on Saturday. He’s another young winger that needs to get some preseason action before cuts start happening. If he’s healthy, I think tonight is a good opportunity for him.

I also think that tonight is a chance to get some guys here on camp invites a game before being sent to Bakersfield. Luke Esposito had a good game in Seattle and has likely earned another game. Dino Kambeitz was strong in Penticton and played 53 games in Bakersfield last season. I can see him getting a look tonight.

Jason Demers spoke to the media today as well, so he’s likely playing. His partner all camp long has been Markus Niemelainen. Niemelainen scored a goal in the first preseason game and has been working on his puck skills. He brings a physical element that nobody else on the Oilers brings. He’s in contention for a depth defence spot.

His most direct competition is Philip Broberg. Tonight is an opportunity for one of them to create some separation over the other. Broberg is expected to make this team out of camp, and it’s in the team’s best interest to have him on the roster from a cap perspective. I could see the battle between Broberg and Niemelainen playing out on the ice tonight. Tyson Barrie has been Broberg’s partner for camp so far, so he’s in too.

The bottom pairing will be filled by players that are expected to play in Bakersfield this year. Alex Peters has had a strong camp so far. I believe that he’s earned another game. Yanni Kaldis made the trip to Seattle but didn’t play. I expect that he will play tonight. 

Woodcroft did say that Calvin Pickard will start in goal and Stuart Skinner will backup. I could easily foresee them splitting the net again like they did in Seattle.

This is my predicted lineup for tonight’s game against the Flames:

Janmark – McLeod – Foegele

Holloway – Shore – Bourgault

Petrov – Malone – Tullio

Esposito- McKegg – Kambeitz

Broberg – Barrie

Niemelainen – Demers

Peters – Kaldis

Pickard

Skinner

We’ll have to wait until closer to puck drop to see if I’m right or not! Enjoy the game everyone.