Oilers reveal lines for tonight's game vs. Canucks without Draisaitl

According to reporters at practice, the Oilers are expected to run the following lineup tonight against the Canucks:

Without Draisaitl, the Oilers lines have been put into the blender.

Vasily Podkolzin will move up to the top line with McDavid and Hyman. Nugent-Hopkins will centre the second line with Kasperi Kapanen, and Trent Frederic promoted to the top-six. The bottom two lines will remain intact entirely.

On defence, pairings will remain the same with Alec Regula staying out of the lineup. Tristan Jarry will get the start in net, his 5th with the Edmonton Oilers.

It's interesting to see which players the coach is giving some extra opportunity with Draisaitl absent. Podkolzin has surely earned the promotion to the top line, and will aim to lend his complementary style to McDavid.

Trent Frederic has been playing better of late, and the coach is rewarding him with yet another chance at the top-six. He struggled massively in the top-six earlier this season, but has begun to have some better efforts on Lazar's line recently.

Hopefully the Oilers will be able to stay hot against a dwindling Canucks team, and get through the next week with a positive record even without Draisaitl.

Also read on Edmonton Hockey Daily :
Leon Draisaitl leaving Edmonton Oilers to deal with personal matter