Following a disappointing 3-1 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday night to start their four-game road trip, the Oilers mixed up their forward lines as they hit the ice for Wednesday's practice in Boston.
The big changes came on the right side, as the coaching staff elevated Zack Kassian to play RW with Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Milan Lucic, while Leon Draisaitl skated with Connor McDavid and Pat Maroon. Jordan Eberle was slotted on the right side of Drake Caggiula, with Benoit Pouliot on the left. "Just shuffling things around," said Head Coach Todd McLellan when asked about the changes. "We've only scored one or two goals five-on-five over the last three or four games. We had very few chances last night." In addition being outscored by a pair, the Oilers were outshot 35-22 by the Blue Jackets, who won their 16th consecutive game. Anton Lander looks to be trending to draw back into the Oilers lineup after getting called up from Bakersfield on Monday. He skated on a line with Mark Letestu and Jesse Puljujärvi at practice, while Matt Hendricks was the extra forward.
