Edmonton Oilers projected lineup for game two of the Stanley Cup Final

In the top-six, Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl will be playing on separate lines again and that is a good thing for the Oilers because it worked well in Game 1. I know that the Oilers would prefer to not have to go “nuclear,” so if they can keep arguably the top two players in the world on different lines, that creates some more depth down the forward lineup.

And that is something the Oilers have excelled at all post-season, as they became the ninth team in NHL history to have 20 or more unique goal scorers in a single playoff season.

With how well the bottom six played in Game 1, that will be staying the same with Henrique centering Frederic and Brown and Janmark centering Podkolzin and Arvidsson.

If Edmonton decides to move some of the lineups around, it will be with the third and fourth lines because there is currently no need to change the top two lines.

On the defensive side of things, Ekholm and Bouchard will be linemates again, which is a great thing to hear for Oilers fans. Bouchard in my opinion has to have a better start tonight, but he will be okay and it should all work out.

Nurse and Kulak will be the second pairing, while Walman and Klingberg will be rounding out the bottom pairing.

Here is a reminder for what the full lineup will look like tonight.

If Stuart Skinner has a better start tonight, a win at home in front of Oil Country will give the Oilers a 2-0 series lead over the defending champions and put them in prime control of their own destiny.

Let’s Go Oilers!