Article content Edmonton Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch is at it again, making another bold roster move for Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Finals against the Florida Panthers. This in from Daniel Nugent-Bowman of The Athletic from the Edmonton Oilers practice in Florida today, news that Oilers d-man Cody Ceci has been demoted out of the top three pairings. Oilers lines and pairings at morning skate for Game 2 of the SCF: RNH-McDavid-Hyman Henrique-Draisaitl-Holloway Foegele-McLeod-Perry Janmark-Carrick-Brown Ekholm-Bouchard Nurse-Desharnais Kulak-Broberg (Kemp-Ceci) And Mark Spector of Sportsnet reported: “No Kane at practice, which is normal.
One thing, source tells me Kane never (or very seldom) sat on the bench in Game 1. Whatever his injury, sitting doesn’t work for him. He’s walking the line between courageous and ineffective, 1 pt in 8 games.
” Update: Jack Michaels of the Oilers reports Kane will play tonight. And from Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet: “Edmonton: Desharnais in for Ceci. Kane didn’t skate (not unusual), but says he’s playing.
Carrick game-time decision, possibly for Corey Perry.” My take 1. Hmm.
Knoblauch is evidently moving out Cody Ceci in favour of Vincent Desharnais, but as much as the Nurse-Ceci pairing has been caved in on goals for and against in the playoffs (five goals for, 14 against), the Nurse-Desharnais pairing has been weaker (two goals for, eight against). Being paired up with Darnell Nurse has been the common denominator in the stru.
