This in from Sportsnet play-by-play man Jack Michaels, Edmonton forward lines from El Segundo today, with grinding forward Max Jones boosted to the second line, and Jason Dickinson, who left the San Jose game after taking a hard shot to the leg, not on the ice.
The defence pairings remain the same for the Oilers, and goalie Connor Ingram, also injured against San Jose, was on the ice.
Podkolzin-McDavid-Savoie
Jones-RNH-Kapanen
Dach-Samanski-Frederic
Roslovic-Henrique-Lazar
Bob Stauffer of the Oilers provided an update after practice: The Edmonton Oilers Jason Dickinson NOT available for tomorrow’s game vs LA according to HC Kris Knoblauch-no timeline for the injury at this time.”
Knoblauch also didn’t name the starter in goal for the game.
79 games
My take
1. Max Jones has earned this promotion and it also makes sense to put him on the second line, as Ryan Nugent-Hopkins can use some beef on his wings if he’s going to thrive at centre.
At the same time it makes sense for Jack Roslovic to get bumped down as he’s been struggling on defence in recent weeks. Roslovic also provides some scoring balance on his line, teamed up with Adam Henrique and grinder Curtis Lazar.
2. Jones was a first round pick in 2016, the same year the Oilers took Jesse Puljujarvi. But like Puljujarvi, Jones has struggled to find a steady job in the NHL. The way he’s playing now, however, bodes well for future NHL employment. He’s forechecking like a mad man, but also with purpose, winning pucks, not taking penalties, and creating Grade A shots for himself and others.
At the same time, he’s making safe plays with the puck and making sure he’s got his check on defence. He’s on the last year of a deal that pays him $1 million this season, but if he keeps up this level of play he’s certain to earn another NHL deal.
In a short run of games, Jones has been playing at the same high level as Vasily Podkolzin, so that explains his sudden rise up the depth chart.
3. Last year with the Oilers, Jones started strong and then faded. This year, he started strong and has kept up his strong play, as if his next NHL contract depended on it, which it does. If he keeps up this level of play, he’ll be a hard man to take off the playoff roster, even as he has no special teams role. But he’s a big, tough and fast guy with some skill. RNH did well with two rugged wingers, Evander Kane and Zach Hyman, in the playoffs, so it’s a good bet to have him with Jones and Kasperi Kapanen.
4. Connor McDavid’s official on-ice NHL goals plus-minus this year is +16. But if you dig into his actual individual contributions to goals for and individual mistakes on goals against at even strength, he’s +54 (92 contributions to goals for and 38 mistakes on goals against).
79 goals
At the Cult of Hockey
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