Edmonton Oilers Emulate Panthers' Strategy with Revamped Third Line
The Edmonton Oilers appear to have gained a valuable lesson from their recent playoff disappointments, despite missing out on a Stanley Cup or two. A harsh lesson, to be sure, but one that may prove beneficial in the long run.
A New Playoff Approach
For the first time during the Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl Stanley Cup window, the Oilers are heading into these playoffs with a legitimate third line that can pose a verifiable threat to the opposition. This represents a significant strategic shift for the team.
Edmonton got a firsthand look at just how game-changing an effective third line can be when the Florida Panthers deployed their trio of Anton Lundell, Eetu Luostarinen, and Brad Marchand during last year's Cup final. That line finished with a plus-20 goal differential, successfully shutting down the Oilers' high-octane offense while contributing crucial goals of their own.
Moving Beyond Lightning-in-a-Bottle Moments
There have certainly been moments of brilliance from Edmonton's often-overshadowed bottom six over the past three seasons. The third line comprised of Mattias Janmark, Adam Henrique, and Connor Brown pulled more than their share of the weight during the run to the 2023-24 Cup Final.
However, those moments were more lightning-in-a-bottle type occurrences that lasted about as long as they took to happen. This current approach is fundamentally different.
This is about pieces being brought in and put together on purpose, for just such an occasion—not simply whoever's left over from the top six. The Oilers are intentionally constructing a third line with specific capabilities and roles in mind.
The New Third Line Components
Picked up at the trade deadline, Jason Dickinson appears to be the very shutdown third-line center Oilers fans have long been petitioning for. After returning from missing the final three games of the regular season with an ankle injury, Dickinson wasted no time making an impact, scoring twice in the 4-3 win over the Anaheim Ducks in Game 1 on Monday.
Remarkably, this happened on a night when Edmonton's league-leading power play and top line were completely shut out.
"During playoff time, you always need other guys stepping up and it's not always going to be the same guys," said Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch. "There are always going to be times where somebody else is the hero. Draisaitl and McDavid are going to be our heroes many times, but they can't be the heroes every single time."
"There are nights where it just doesn't happen. You need other guys stepping up and last night was a good example," Knoblauch added.
Depth and Experience
Flanking Dickinson are Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, who has been no stranger to playing on McDavid's wing, and Jack Roslovic, an early season addition who has also spent significant time in Edmonton's top six this season.
"I think we have lots of guys that can step up in any situation," Nugent-Hopkins said. "A lot of the time it's going to be a couple guys scoring big goals and making big plays, and then the other guys are making big plays on the other side of the puck—making sure they're creating chances but also not giving up anything big."
"We have so much experience within our depth that guys understand that sometimes it's their turn to show up and find ways to score big goals," Nugent-Hopkins continued. "We saw it last night."
The Oilers' new approach represents a strategic evolution that could prove crucial in their playoff journey. By learning from their opponents' successes and intentionally building depth beyond their star players, Edmonton is positioning itself for greater postseason success.
