Janmark was also absent from Saturday’s practice due to an undisclosed injury, but like Kane, the Swede was on the ice yesterday for the Oilers’ full-squad practice at Rogers Place and is expected to play in Game 1 alongside him on the fourth line. Forward Connor Brown should be the odd man out along with Derek Ryan and Troy Stecher on Monday.
Coach Knoblauch and his staff will have a plethora of healthy players to choose from tonight when the 45-year-old makes his NHL playoff coaching debut, including a handful of options who could come in and coming out of the lineup throughout the series. depending on the confrontations and the progress of the game.
“We have a lot of guys who are playing well,” he added. “We’re going to eliminate someone, which is going to be difficult.”
During Saturday’s practice, Kane and Janmark made line runs with Sam Carrick, signaling that Dylan Holloway appears to have secured his spot in Edmonton’s Game 1 lineup alongside Corey Perry and Ryan McLeod on the third line.
The 22-year-old has the versatility to play both the wing and center and enters the 2024 playoffs in top form, scoring in three of his last six games and showing off his speed and skills as a asset for the Oilers on their journey to Stanley. Cup.
Holloway’s speed plays an important role alongside another speedy forward, McLeod, and a veteran, Perry, who is the only player on the Oilers roster to win the Stanley Cup – a feat he accomplished in 2007 with the Anaheim Ducks.
“From what I saw, Dylan gave me a lot of confidence, the coaching staff and all the players on the team because of the way he played with a simple, direct play and a lot of tenacity and physicality,” Knoblauch said. . “He’s been able to contribute pretty significantly to his role since being called up, scoring goals and assists, but I just think playing with the puck gives us the most confidence in a young guy player.
