Kapanen has struggled to establish himself with the Blues, in and out of the lineup this season, being limited to only one point (1G / 0A) in 10 games while averaging 11:19 time-on-ice through 10 games. He has 23 points (7G / 16A) in 83 total games with the Blues over the previous two seasons.
Nurse was on the receiving end of an illegal check to the head by Toronto's Ryan Reaves on Saturday. Reaves was given a five-minute major penalty and has been suspended for five games.
On the tail end of a back-to-back, the Oilers will turn to Skinner between the pipes on Tuesday against the Ottawa Senators. The 26-year-old Skinner has struggled this season, salvaging a 5-5-2 record despite posting an ugly 3.28 GAA and .877 SV%. He has allowed three or more goals in fix of his last six games (3-2-1), posting a .864 SV%.
On the front end of a back-to-back, the Oilers will turn to Pickard between the pipes, his second start in three games. The 32-year-old Pickard has been serviceable when called upon this season, posting a 2.49 GAA and .890 SV% in seven games (4-2-0). He was stellar in his previous outing, saving 20 of 22 shots (.909 SV%) in a 3-2 overtime win over the Nashville Predators. The Oilers enter the action on Monday as sizeable -260 road favorites against the Montreal Canadiens.
Kapanen will return to the lineup on Thursday after sitting out Tuesday's game against the Bruins. Alexandre Texier will sit in his place.
With Viktor Arvidsson battling an undisclosed injury, the Oilers will switch to an 11-forward, seven-defenseman formation and bring Dermott into the lineup. The 27-year-old Dermott is averaging 15:14 time-on-ice, has zero points, and a -2 plus/minus in six games this season.
Arvidsson is battling an undisclosed ailment and will miss his first game of the season on Thursday against the Nashville Predators. Most recently, the 31-year-old Arvidsson has been suiting up on a line with Leon Draisatl after struggling to find success in the early going of his first season with the Oilers, scoring five points (2G / 3A) in his first 16 games. Travis Dermott will draw into the Oilers lineup as Arvidsson's replacement with the team switching to an 11-forward, seven-defenseman formation.
Arvidsson is battling an undisclosed ailment and could be at jeopardy of missing his first game of the season on Thursday against the Nashville Predators. Most recently, the 31-year-old Arvidsson has been suiting up on a line with Leon Draisatl after struggling to find success in the early going of his first season with the Oilers, scoring five points (2G / 3A) in his first 16 games.
The Oilers are riding a two-game winning streak and will switch to Pickard between the pipes after rolling with Stuart Skinner for three straight. The 32-year-old Pickard has been serviceable when called upon this season, especially lately, allowing three or fewer goals in four straight (3-1-0), boasting a .917 SV%. The Oilers will host a Nashville Predators club that they defeated 5-1 two weeks ago when Pickard saved 26 of 27 shots (.963 SV%).
Walman ha been a game-time decision the previous two games and will be again on Thursday. The 28-year-old Walman has been productive from the blueline in his first season with the Sharks, scoring nine points (1G / 8A) in 13 games, highlighted by seven points (1G / 6A) in his last four contests.
The Oilers will roll with Skinner in their crease for a third straight game on Tuesday against the New York Islanders. Skinner has had an up-and-down 2024-25 campaign, highlighted by a pedestrian 3.25 GAA and .883 SV% in 10 games (4-5-1). The 26-year-old netminder has allowed three or more goals in eight of his 10 starts this season. That said, the Oilers enter the action on Tuesday as sizeable -217 home favorites against an Islanders club that ranks in the bottom five of the league offensively, averaging 2.6 goals per game.
Kapanen has been limited to only eight games this but appears to be nearing a return as he was a game-time decision on Thursday against the Utah Hockey Club. The 28-year-old Kapanen has been out of the lineup since suffering an injury on October 29th.
