Smith to start Game 4, Yamamoto out

Edmonton Oilers' head coach Jay Woodcroft met briefly with the media this morning.

Kailer Yamamoto will be out for Game 4 this evening. The top-6 forward was injured following a hit in Game 2 by Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog.

Youngster forward Dylan Holloway will make his NHL debut this evening. He was the Oilers 2020 first round pick (14th overall). In 33 games played for the AHL Bakersfield Condors this season, he had 8 goals and 14 assists for 22 points.

Furthermore, netminder Mike Smith will get the start in goal tonight for Game 4. The Oilers' must win tonight at home to keep their Cup hopes alive. They are trailing in the series 0-3.

In this series, Smith has been below average and incredibly inconsistent. Through three games, Smith has 94 saves on 107 shots for a .878 save percentage. He was pulled in Game 1 after surrendering six goals.

There is no question that Smith has made some amazing saves in this series, but he has also allowed some soft shots get by him. Coach Woodcroft has expressed time and again that Smith is "his guy".

Getting back in this series will start with a win tonight. The Oilers will be missing Yamamoto and Evander Kane (suspension). Nazem Kadri is out indefinitely for the Avalanche. Tune in tonight at 8pm for Game 4 of the Western Conference Final.

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