Oilers HC Kris Knoblauch hints at mysterious lineup changes after ugly Game 3 loss to Panthers

The Edmonton Oilers are preparing for Game 4 after a tough 6-1 loss to the Florida Panthers in Game 3, and head coach Kris Knoblauch said there will be at least one lineup change. NHL insider Mark Spector reported that defenseman Troy Stecher is likely to replace John Klingberg.

"Knobauch says there WILL be a lineup change for Game 4. Likely Stecher in, Klingberg out," Spector wrote on X.

Forward Ryan Nugent-Hopkins remains a game-time decision, according to NHL insider Elliotte Friedman.

"Kris Knoblauch this morning: *One potential lineup change *Did not confirm a starting goalie *Ryan Nugent-Hopkins again a game-time decision," Friedman said in his X post.

Knoblauch also did not confirm who would start in goal. In Game 3, Stuart Skinner failed to guard the net and allowed 5 goals on 23 shots. He was replaced by goalie Calvin Pickard in the third period, so there is some uncertainty around which goalie will start for the Oilers in Game 4.

The team was supposed to have a day off on Tuesday, but after the loss, they decided to return to the ice instead. Knoblauch said the staff felt it was better to practice and break up the schedule. The Oilers held a short 30-minute skate to move past the loss and prepare for the next game.

"We weren't 100 percent what we were going to do," Knoblauch said, via NHL.com. "After we thought about it, we felt it was better to practice than to take the day off and then have the pregame skate (Thursday)."

In Game 3, the Oilers struggled with discipline. They took four penalties in the first period and fell behind early. They tried to respond physically, but it only led to more penalties. The Oilers were given 21 penalties for 85 minutes, while Florida had 14 penalties for 55 minutes.

Oilers forward Corey Perry is focused on Game 4

Veteran forward Corey Perry said the team must move on and focus on the next game. He said they can’t change what happened, but they can improve.

"You can't dwell on things you can't change. You can't change the outcome after the game has ended," Perry said via NHL.com. "The next one's the biggest one and that's how we think about it. We lost the game, get ready for the next one and we move on."

The Oilers have recovered from tough losses before. In the first round, they lost Game 1 and Game 2 to the LA Kings but won four straight after. In the second round, they lost Game 3 to Vegas on a fluke goal but bounced back again. They also lost the first game to the Dallas Stars in the Western Conference Final, but then won the next four.

Now, Game 4 will be played on Thursday at Amerant Bank Arena.