Notable Roster Changes For Edmonton Oilers For Game 2 of Cup Final

After getting "goalied" and physically battered in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final by Sergei Bobrovsky and the Florida Panthers, the Edmonton Oilers are looking at a couple of notable roster moves and lineup changes ahead of Game 2 Monday night.

Head coach Kris Knoblauch has confirmed that Cody Ceci will be a healthy scratch for the first time.

At morning skate, #Oilers have Darnell Nurse with Vinny Desharnais ahead of Game 2.

Ekholm-Bouchard
Kulak-Broberg
Nurse-Desharnais

Appears Cody Ceci may be a healthy scratch.
— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) June 10, 2024

The more physical Vincent Desharnais took Ceci's spot alongside Darnell Nurse on one defensive pairing at practice Monday morning, while Philip Broberg keeps his spot with Brett Kulak, all in support of the usual top pairing, of course, of Mattias Ekholm and Evan Bouchard.

Ceci has played all 19 games in these playoffs for the Oilers thus far, registering 19:46 of ice time per night, but he lags behind with a minus-7 rating. Desharnais hasn't played since Game 3 of the Conference Final against Dallas after registering a minus-4 in his last four games in the lineup and a minus-8 in 15 playoff games overall.

The other notable news at morning skate surrounded the absence of the noticeably injured Evander Kane, with Adam Henrique moving up to the second line alongside Leon Draisaitl and Dylan Holloway for practice. Sam Carrick was skating on the fourth line between Mattias Janmark and Connor Brown.

The @EdmontonOilers today:

RNH-Mcdavid-Hyman
Henrique-Draisaitl-Holloway
Foegele-McLeod-Perry
Janmark-Carrick-Brown
Ryan-Gagner

(Kane not on ice)

Ekholm-Bouchard
Nurse-Desharnais
Kulak-Broberg
Kemp-Ceci

Skinner
Pickard
— Bob Stauffer (@Bob_Stauffer) June 10, 2024

As for Kane, he insists that he will play tonight ("because it's the Stanley Cup Final"), though insider Mark Spector speculates that he should maybe sit this one out, if he can't be effective:

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.
— Mark Spector🇨🇦🇺🇦 (@SportsnetSpec) June 10, 2024

"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."