Oilers Coach Kris Knoblauch Makes Bold Move With Roster Decision

Who would you expect the Oilers to start any given game? How about a game after five days off? If you said Ryan McLeod, you are either Kris Knoblauch, or you are a liar. Obviously, everyone would expect the Connor McDavid line to start and if they don't for whatever reason, surely it would be the Leon Draisaitl line. Many would probably even expect them to start both players on the same line. That might be exactly why Knoblauch went with another move altogether.

The freshman head coach was playing 4D chess last night as he started with a major gambit. Starting the third line. He players instantly rewarded him as Ryan McLeod scored 30 seconds into the first shift of the contest.

Defenseman Mattias Ekholm added to McLeod's tally just 11 seconds later, giving the Oilers a demanding two-goal lead less than a minute into the game. This time though, it did come with Connor McDavid on the ice as he set up the goal.

The Oilers would not give up the lead for the rest of the game as they ultimately steam rolled the Hurricanes 6-1.

The Oilers are 7-3 in their last ten games and they have won 5 in a row. They are one of the hottest teams in the league as they appear to be showing that they are not dead yet. The team still has a lot of work to do before they are back in a playoff spot, but suddenly the season does not seem to be lost as many had feared just a couple of weeks ago.

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