<p><a href="https://oilersnation.com/2025/04/09/oilers-injury-update-ryan-nugent-hopkins-out-wednesday-against-blues-mcdavid-draisaitl-could-return-by-next-week/">Ryan Nugent-Hopkins</a> isn&#8217;t expected to play tonight. He joins Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, Mattias Ekholm, Stuart Skinner, Trent Frederic, John Klingberg and Evander Kane on the unavailable list. That is a total of $42.2 million on the shelf.</p>
<p>The good news is most are expected to be ready for playoffs.</p>
<p></p>
<div class="bam-inline-promotion-block" data-max-length="2" data-placement-id="2107" data-context="web-content-promocard" data-property-id="325"></div>
<p>RNH is dealing with an illness. McDavid, <a href="https://oilersnation.com/2025/04/03/edmonton-oilers-leon-draisaitl-injured-san-jose-sharks/">Draisaitl</a>, Ekholm, Stuart Skinner and Kane skated this morning. Skinner is expected to return to the lineup, at the very least in a backup role, <a href="http://oilersnation.com/schedule">on Friday</a> v. San Jose. Ekholm, McDavid and Draisaitl are expected back within a week. <a href="https://oilersnation.com/2025/04/07/edmonton-oilers-short-roster-against-anaheim-ducks-trent-frederic-aggravates-ankle-injury/">Frederic</a> is getting more tests done today for an update on his high ankle sprain, but they are hopeful he will be ready for the playoffs. <a href="https://oilersnation.com/2025/03/23/evander-kane-might-not-return-oilers-begin-playoffs/">Kane will play</a> in the playoffs, but he might not play game one. Klingberg has an infection and his return is unknown at this time.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, the Edmonton Oilers face the hottest team in the NHL tonight. The St. Louis Blues have won 12 of their last 13 games. Their 12-game winning streak ended in Winnipeg on Monday night, but the Blues have been scoring with ease and defending quite well for the past seven weeks.</p>
<p>This will be a very tough test for the Oilers. Edmonton played well for long stretches in Anaheim, but their PP struggled mightily (0-for-6) and their bottom-six guys created some good opportunities, but Mattias Janmark, Connor Brown and Max Jones couldn&#8217;t bury their chances.</p>
<p>If the Oilers want to win tonight, it likely will be low scoring. They need to limit the Blues’ chances. They can&#8217;t gift them any goals. The Oilers still have some guys with a history of producing, and they will need Zach Hyman Viktor Arvidsson, Jeff Skinner and Adam Henrique to lead the way offensively.</p>
<p>The Oilers’ blue line ranks sixth in points, and they are capable of chipping in offensively with Evan Bouchard, Jake Walman and Darnell Nurse sitting among the top-30 even-strength-scoring defenders. The Oilers are depleted offensively, but that doesn&#8217;t mean the team still can&#8217;t produce. They generated some good looks against Anaheim, and will need to do the same tonight.</p>
<h2>SNAPSHOTS&#8230;</h2>
<p>&#8212; Robert Thomas is on fire. He&#8217;s riding a nine-game point streak where he&#8217;s produced 20 points. He leads the NHL in scoring since 4-Nations with 35 points in 23 games, one ahead of Nikita Kucherov.</p>
<p>&#8212; The Blues are the highest-scoring team in the league since the 4-Nations Face-Off, averaging 3.78 GF/game, and they have the sixth-lowest GA/game at 2.26. Their +1.52 GF-GA differential is also the best in the league. They are a league-best 18-3-2 as well.</p>
<p>&#8212; The big question surrounding the Blues will be: Can they maintain their hot streak down the stretch and into the playoffs? They have three more regular-season games — tonight, Saturday in Seattle and next Tuesday at home to Utah. Most likely they will play Vegas and while the Blues will be rested, I wonder if they lose their mojo by playing only three games in 11 days before the playoffs begin on the 19th. St. Louis and Vegas would be good candidates to start on Saturday as neither team plays on Thursday the 17th.</p>
<p>&#8212; <a href="https://oilersnation.com/2025/04/09/calvin-pickard-edmonton-oilers-nominee-bill-masterton-trophy/">Calvin Pickard is the Oilers’ nominee for the Bill Masterton trophy</a>, which is awarded to the player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey. Pickard is a great example of those things and well deserving of being the Oilers’ nominee.</p>
<blockquote><p>&#8220;I&#8217;ve grinded for a little bit up and down from the minors and I got a really good opportunity here last year. It&#8217;s been the time of my life,&#8221; Pickard said this morning.</p></blockquote>
<p>He was quick to point out how much his teammates have helped him, but Pickard deserves this honour for his work ethic and being a great teammate. Many would have been angry or jaded after how his career unfolded for seven seasons, but he wasn&#8217;t — a great example for many on how to handle and deal with adversity.</p>
<hr />
<figure id="attachment_165878" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-165878" style="width: 1024px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-large wp-image-165878" src="http://publish.oilersnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/USATSI_24440172_168383996_lowres-1024x683.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="683" srcset="https://publish.oilersnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/USATSI_24440172_168383996_lowres-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://publish.oilersnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/USATSI_24440172_168383996_lowres-300x200.jpg 300w, https://publish.oilersnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/USATSI_24440172_168383996_lowres-768x512.jpg 768w, https://publish.oilersnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/USATSI_24440172_168383996_lowres-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://publish.oilersnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/USATSI_24440172_168383996_lowres.jpg 1942w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-165878" class="wp-caption-text">Oct 8, 2024; Seattle, Washington, USA; St. Louis Blues center Dylan Holloway (81) looks on against the Seattle Kraken during the second period at Climate Pledge Arena. Mandatory Credit: Caean Couto-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure>
<hr />
<h2 class="border-b-accent text-accent mb-5 border-b-2 text-3xl font-bold">LINEUPS…</h2>
<h2 class="mb-5 text-2xl font-bold"><a class="text-accent" href="https://oilersnation.com/combinations" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Oilers</a></h2>
<p><strong>Hyman – Henrique – Perry</strong></p>
<p><strong>Podkolzin – Philp – Arvidsson</strong></p>
<p><strong>Skinner – Janmark – Brown</strong></p>
<p><strong>Jones – Kapanen</strong></p>
<p><strong>Walman– Bouchard</strong></p>
<p><strong>Nurse – Stecher</strong></p>
<p><strong>Kulak – Emberson</strong></p>
<p><strong>Pickard</strong></p>
<p>Noah Philp will play his 13th game this season. These lines are a guess, as this morning Draisaitl and McDavid were involved in line rushes. I just put Philp in RNH&#8217;s spot from last game. I&#8217;m guessing we will see many different line combinations tonight.</p>
<h2 class="mb-5 text-2xl font-bold"><a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/teams/st-louis-blues/line-combinations">Blues</a></h2>
<p><strong>Buchnevich – Thomas – Snuggerud</strong></p>
<p><strong>Neighbours – Schenn – Kyrou</strong></p>
<p><strong>Joseph – Sundqvist – Bolduc</strong></p>
<p><strong>Toropchenko – Faksa – Walker</strong></p>
<p><strong>Broberg – Faulk</strong></p>
<p><strong>Fowler – Leddy</strong></p>
<p><strong>Suter – Tucker</strong></p>
<p><strong>Binnington</strong></p>
<p>Dylan Holloway is out for the rest of the regular season, and at this point, they aren&#8217;t sure if he will be ready to start the playoffs. He had 26 goals and 63 points in 77 games before being injured. Terrible timing for him to get hurt before playoffs. He&#8217;s had an unreal breakout season and his injury is a big blow for the Blues.</p>
<h2>TONIGHT&#8230;</h2>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-173000" src="http://publish.oilersnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/TzqNfXo4.jpg" alt="GDB Darnell Nurse Edmonton Oilers St. Louis Blues Photoshop" width="2000" height="1600" srcset="https://publish.oilersnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/TzqNfXo4.jpg 2000w, https://publish.oilersnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/TzqNfXo4-300x240.jpg 300w, https://publish.oilersnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/TzqNfXo4-1024x819.jpg 1024w, https://publish.oilersnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/TzqNfXo4-768x614.jpg 768w, https://publish.oilersnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/TzqNfXo4-1536x1229.jpg 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px" /></p>
<p><strong>GAME DAY PREDICTION: </strong>It is a low-event game. Oilers lose 3-2 in overtime.</p>
<p><strong>OBVIOUS GAME DAY PREDICTION:</strong> Thomas extends his point streak to 10 games.</p>
<p><strong>NOT-SO-OBVIOUS GAME DAY PREDICTION:</strong> Oilers score a power play goal.</p>
<hr />
<h2><strong>ARTICLE PRESENTED BY bet365</strong></h2>
<div class="bam-inline-promotion" data-property-id="325" data-promotion-id="19111"></div>

<a href="https://oilersnation.com/2025/04/09/oilers-injury-update-ryan-nugent-hopkins-out-wednesday-against-blues-mcdavid-draisaitl-could-return-by-next-week/">Ryan Nugent-Hopkins</a> isn't expected to play tonight. He joins Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, Mattias Ekholm, Stuart Skinner, Trent Frederic, John Klingberg and Evander Kane on the unavailable list. That is a total of $42.2 million on the shelf.

The good news is most are expected to be ready for playoffs.


<div class="bam-inline-promotion-block" data-max-length="2" data-placement-id="2107" data-context="web-content-promocard" data-property-id="325"></div>
RNH is dealing with an illness. McDavid, <a href="https://oilersnation.com/2025/04/03/edmonton-oilers-leon-draisaitl-injured-san-jose-sharks/">Draisaitl</a>, Ekholm, Stuart Skinner and Kane skated this morning. Skinner is expected to return to the lineup, at the very least in a backup role, <a href="http://oilersnation.com/schedule">on Friday</a> v. San Jose. Ekholm, McDavid and Draisaitl are expected back within a week. <a href="https://oilersnation.com/2025/04/07/edmonton-oilers-short-roster-against-anaheim-ducks-trent-frederic-aggravates-ankle-injury/">Frederic</a> is getting more tests done today for an update on his high ankle sprain, but they are hopeful he will be ready for the playoffs. <a href="https://oilersnation.com/2025/03/23/evander-kane-might-not-return-oilers-begin-playoffs/">Kane will play</a> in the playoffs, but he might not play game one. Klingberg has an infection and his return is unknown at this time.

Meanwhile, the Edmonton Oilers face the hottest team in the NHL tonight. The St. Louis Blues have won 12 of their last 13 games. Their 12-game winning streak ended in Winnipeg on Monday night, but the Blues have been scoring with ease and defending quite well for the past seven weeks.

This will be a very tough test for the Oilers. Edmonton played well for long stretches in Anaheim, but their PP struggled mightily (0-for-6) and their bottom-six guys created some good opportunities, but Mattias Janmark, Connor Brown and Max Jones couldn't bury their chances.

If the Oilers want to win tonight, it likely will be low scoring. They need to limit the Blues’ chances. They can't gift them any goals. The Oilers still have some guys with a history of producing, and they will need Zach Hyman Viktor Arvidsson, Jeff Skinner and Adam Henrique to lead the way offensively.

The Oilers’ blue line ranks sixth in points, and they are capable of chipping in offensively with Evan Bouchard, Jake Walman and Darnell Nurse sitting among the top-30 even-strength-scoring defenders. The Oilers are depleted offensively, but that doesn't mean the team still can't produce. They generated some good looks against Anaheim, and will need to do the same tonight.
<h2>SNAPSHOTS...</h2>
--- Robert Thomas is on fire. He's riding a nine-game point streak where he's produced 20 points. He leads the NHL in scoring since 4-Nations with 35 points in 23 games, one ahead of Nikita Kucherov.

--- The Blues are the highest-scoring team in the league since the 4-Nations Face-Off, averaging 3.78 GF/game, and they have the sixth-lowest GA/game at 2.26. Their +1.52 GF-GA differential is also the best in the league. They are a league-best 18-3-2 as well.

--- The big question surrounding the Blues will be: Can they maintain their hot streak down the stretch and into the playoffs? They have three more regular-season games — tonight, Saturday in Seattle and next Tuesday at home to Utah. Most likely they will play Vegas and while the Blues will be rested, I wonder if they lose their mojo by playing only three games in 11 days before the playoffs begin on the 19th. St. Louis and Vegas would be good candidates to start on Saturday as neither team plays on Thursday the 17th.

--- <a href="https://oilersnation.com/2025/04/09/calvin-pickard-edmonton-oilers-nominee-bill-masterton-trophy/">Calvin Pickard is the Oilers’ nominee for the Bill Masterton trophy</a>, which is awarded to the player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey. Pickard is a great example of those things and well deserving of being the Oilers’ nominee.
<blockquote>"I've grinded for a little bit up and down from the minors and I got a really good opportunity here last year. It's been the time of my life," Pickard said this morning.</blockquote>
He was quick to point out how much his teammates have helped him, but Pickard deserves this honour for his work ethic and being a great teammate. Many would have been angry or jaded after how his career unfolded for seven seasons, but he wasn't — a great example for many on how to handle and deal with adversity.

<hr />

[caption id="attachment_165878" align="aligncenter" width="1024"]<img class="size-large wp-image-165878" src="http://publish.oilersnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/USATSI_24440172_168383996_lowres-1024x683.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="683" /> Oct 8, 2024; Seattle, Washington, USA; St. Louis Blues center Dylan Holloway (81) looks on against the Seattle Kraken during the second period at Climate Pledge Arena. Mandatory Credit: Caean Couto-Imagn Images[/caption]

<hr />

<h2 class="border-b-accent text-accent mb-5 border-b-2 text-3xl font-bold">LINEUPS…</h2>
<h2 class="mb-5 text-2xl font-bold"><a class="text-accent" href="https://oilersnation.com/combinations" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Oilers</a></h2>
<strong>Hyman – Henrique – Perry</strong>

<strong>Podkolzin – Philp – Arvidsson</strong>

<strong>Skinner – Janmark – Brown</strong>

<strong>Jones – Kapanen</strong>

<strong>Walman– Bouchard</strong>

<strong>Nurse – Stecher</strong>

<strong>Kulak – Emberson</strong>

<strong>Pickard</strong>

Noah Philp will play his 13th game this season. These lines are a guess, as this morning Draisaitl and McDavid were involved in line rushes. I just put Philp in RNH's spot from last game. I'm guessing we will see many different line combinations tonight.
<h2 class="mb-5 text-2xl font-bold"><a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/teams/st-louis-blues/line-combinations">Blues</a></h2>
<strong>Buchnevich – Thomas – Snuggerud</strong>

<strong>Neighbours – Schenn – Kyrou</strong>

<strong>Joseph – Sundqvist – Bolduc</strong>

<strong>Toropchenko – Faksa – Walker</strong>

<strong>Broberg – Faulk</strong>

<strong>Fowler – Leddy</strong>

<strong>Suter – Tucker</strong>

<strong>Binnington</strong>

Dylan Holloway is out for the rest of the regular season, and at this point, they aren't sure if he will be ready to start the playoffs. He had 26 goals and 63 points in 77 games before being injured. Terrible timing for him to get hurt before playoffs. He's had an unreal breakout season and his injury is a big blow for the Blues.
<h2>TONIGHT...</h2>
<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-173000" src="http://publish.oilersnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/TzqNfXo4.jpg" alt="GDB Darnell Nurse Edmonton Oilers St. Louis Blues Photoshop" width="2000" height="1600" />

<strong>GAME DAY PREDICTION: </strong>It is a low-event game. Oilers lose 3-2 in overtime.

<strong>OBVIOUS GAME DAY PREDICTION:</strong> Thomas extends his point streak to 10 games.

<strong>NOT-SO-OBVIOUS GAME DAY PREDICTION:</strong> Oilers score a power play goal.

<hr />

<h2><strong>ARTICLE PRESENTED BY bet365</strong></h2>
<div class="bam-inline-promotion" data-property-id="325" data-promotion-id="19111"></div>

Recent articles from Jason Gregor

Breaking News