The senators vs oilers meeting on Tuesday carries more roster intrigue than usual: Edmonton added a new defenseman in a trade but he will not play, Ottawa’s coach remained noncommittal about changes, and a flurry of recalls and waivers has altered depth charts on both sides. Optional morning skates preceded the matchup and the published projections offer a clear view of how each club plans to deploy its core while managing recent transactions and injuries.
Senators Vs Oilers: Projected lineups and scratches
Projected forward groupings published for the matchup show established combinations on both teams. Ottawa’s forwards are listed as Drake Batherson — Tim Stutzle — Claude Giroux on the top line, followed by Brady Tkachuk — Dylan Cozens — Ridly Greig; Nick Cousins — Shane Pinto — Michael Amadio; and Stephen Halliday — Lars Eller — Fabian Zetterlund. The Senators are carrying two listed injuries: Nikolas Matinpalo (undisclosed) and David Perron (sports hernia).
Edmonton’s projected forward set features Ryan Nugent-Hopkins — Connor McDavid — Zach Hyman; Vasily Podkolzin — Leon Draisaitl — Kasperi Kapanen; Trent Frederic — Jack Roslovic — Matthew Savoie; and Curtis Lazar — Adam Henrique — Josh Samanski. Each team held an optional morning skate before the game.
What Murphy’s absence and recent moves mean for the Oilers
Connor Murphy, a defenseman acquired in a trade with the Chicago Blackhawks on Monday, joined the Oilers on Tuesday but will not play. That absence removes the immediate possibility of a fresh defensive pairing and keeps other blue-line options intact for the game night. Meanwhile, roster shuffling on Edmonton’s depth chart has continued: Josh Samanski and Isaac Howard, a forward, were each recalled from Bakersfield of the American Hockey League, while defenseman Alec Regula and forward Andrew Mangiapane were waived and assigned to Bakersfield.
Andrew Mangiapane cleared waivers on Monday and was sent to the AHL; he scored 35 goals in 2022 and has been mentioned in trade rumours involving several teams, including Ottawa. With Murphy unavailable to debut, the Oilers are relying on recalled forwards for depth and will carry the immediate effects of the waivers into their lineup decisions for this game.
Road-trip backdrop, coaching stance and short-term implications
The Senators began a swing out West for this portion of their schedule and the matchup serves as a road test of the club’s current forward groupings. Senators coach Travis Green was noncommittal regarding any lineup changes, a stance that keeps projected combinations in place while leaving room for late adjustments. Green, head coach of the Ottawa Senators, was “noncommittal regarding any lineup changes. “
Optional skates for both teams signaled a light preparation day, consistent with teams that are finalizing roles after transactions and waiver activity. For Ottawa, maintaining its listed top and middle trios keeps match-up stability against Edmonton’s established top lines. For Edmonton, the delayed appearance of its new defenseman and the movement of players to and from Bakersfield will shape short-term depth and deployment choices.
As the teams take the ice, the senators vs oilers contest will serve as an immediate test of how recent roster turbulence — a trade acquisition that will not play, recalls from the AHL, and waiver assignments — translates into minutes and matchups on the ice. Will the absence of a new defenseman alter Edmonton’s game plan in a measurable way? That is the question both clubs will answer live on the scoreboard tonight.
