Owen Pickering will be a healthy scratch on Friday against the Buffalo Sabres, allowing Graves to re-enter the lineup for the first time since January 3rd. The 29-year-old Graves is averaging 15:25 time-on-ice and has zero points, 40 blocks, and 36 hits in 31 games this season.
Skinner will get the start for the tail-end of Edmonton's back-to-back after Calvin Pickard got the nod on Wednesday. Skinner was fantastic in his last start, stopping all 30 shots he faced in a 1-0 shutout victory over the Kings on Monday. The 26-year-old netminder owns a 17-9-3 record and a .902 SV% on the season. The Oilers enter action on Thursday at +100 on the money line.
Girard has not played the previous three games due to an undisclosed injury but will return to the lineup on Thursday against the Chicago Blackhawks. The 26-year-old Girard is averaging 21:10 time-on-ice and has 18 points (2G / 16A) in 42 games this season. Sam Malinski will exit the lineup to accommodate Girard's return.
With Tristan Jarry placed on waivers, Pittsburgh has recalled Blomqvist from the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (AHL). The 23-year-old Blomqvist has a 2.93 GAA and .912 SV% in 12 games with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton this season (6-4-2). He was serviceable in a small sample at the NHL level earlier this season, posting a 3.60 GAA and .904 SV% in eight games (3-5-0).
Girard has not played the previous three games due to an undisclosed injury but has returned to practice. The 26-year-old Girard is averaging 21:10 time-on-ice and has 18 points (2G / 16A) in 42 games this season.
Malkin has missed the previous three games due to an upper-body injury but will draw back into the lineup on Tuesday against the Seattle Kraken. Malkin is averaging 18:35 time-on-ice, recording 71 shots and 32 points (8G / 24A) in 41 games this season.
Malkin has missed the previous three games due to an upper-body injury but could draw back into the lineup on Tuesday against the Seattle Kraken. Malkin is averaging 18:35 time-on-ice, recording 71 shots and 32 points (8G / 24A) in 41 games this season.
Coming off a 4-3 win with Calvin Pickard in net against the Chicago Blackhawks, the Oilers will return to Skinner between the pipes on Monday against the Los Angeles Kings. Skinner struggled in his most recent out, allowing five goals on 26 shots (.808 SV%) in a 5-3 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins. The 26-year-old netminder has a 2.77 GAA and .898 SV% in 28 games this season (16-9-3). The Oilers enter Monday's contest as -197 home favorites against a Kings team that had a five-game winning streak snapped in Saturday's 2-1 loss to the Calgary Flames.
Coming off a 4-3 win with Calvin Pickard in net against the Chicago Blackhawks, the Oilers will return to Skinner between the pipes on Monday against the Los Angeles Kings. Skinner struggled in his most recent out, allowing five goals on 26 shots (.808 SV%) in a 5-3 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins. The 26-year-old netminder has a 2.77 GAA and .898 SV% in 28 games this season (16-9-3). The Oilers enter Monday's contest as -197 home favorites against a Kings team that had a five-game winning streak snapped in Saturday's 2-1 loss to the Calgary Flames.
Silovs being reassigned to Abbotsford (AHL) likely indicated that Thatcher Demko (back) is ready to return to Vancouver's lineup. Silovs began the season in Vancouver but has predominantly been in the AHL since Demko debuted. The 23-year-old Silovs has a 2.44 GAA and .900 SV% in five games with Abbottsford (AHL).
Brendan Smith will be a healthy scratch on Thursday against the Philadelphia Flyers, allowing Dumba to re-enter the lineup from a one-game absence. Dumba is averaging 15:37 time-on-ice, his lowest total since his rookie season in 2014-15, recording one point (0G / 1A), 20 blocks, and 33 hits in 22 games this season.
The Oilers will roll with Skinner between the pipes for the third time in the last four games. Skinner saved all 26 shots he faced in a 4-0 win over the Boston Bruins on Tuesday but was not awarded a shutout because he missed the end of the first period, being removed from the playing surface by a concussion spotter. The 26-year-old Skinner has a 2.69 GAA and .902 SV% in 27 games this season (16-8-3). The Oilers enter Thursday's contest as sizeable -216 road favorites against a Pittsburgh Penguins team amid a four-game losing skid (0-3-1).
Malkin did not play the Penguins previous game, a late scratch due to an upper-body injury, but could return to the lineup on Thursday against the Edmonton Oilers. Malkin is averaging 18:35 time-on-ice, recording 71 shots and 32 points (8G / 24A) in 41 games this season.
Novak has not played since December 31st, missing two games, but will return to the lineup on Tuesday against the Winnipeg Jets. The 27-year-old Novak only has nine points (5G / 4A) in 31 games after scoring 45 (18G / 27A) in 71 games last season.
Malkin was a surprise scratch on Tuesday, with his absence not being announced prior to warmups. He is considered day-to-day, putting his status in jeopardy for Pittsburgh's game against the Oilers on Thursday.
Novak has not played since December 31st, missing two games, but will likely return to the lineup on Tuesday against the Winnipeg Jets. The 27-year-old Novak only has nine points (5G / 4A) in 31 games after scoring 45 (18G / 27A) in 71 games last season.
