Mangiapane draws in, slumping rookie takes seat for Edmonton Oilers tonight

You aren’t suppose to fix it if it ain’t broke, but head coach Kris Knoblauch appears to be shuffling things up prior to tonight’s game with the Chicago Blackhawks.

Despite the Edmonton Oilers earning five of a possible six points in their last three games, he is pulling out rookie Ike Howard and replacing him with Andrew Mangiapane.

A healthy scratch in five of the last six games, Mangiapane has been a major disappointment this season (11 points in 40 games despite spending the first 25 games in Edmonton’s top six) and is about to be traded.

He needs to be showcased in the hope that he can put together a solid game or two to generate interest in the trade market.

The Oilers always win in Chicago (9-1 in their last 10), so this figures to a be a good opportunity for a player to show his wares.

Howard, meanwhile, is still trying to get some traction in the NHL. He has three points in 21 games (nothing in the last 10) and is minus four in four games since being recalled from the AHL.

Connor Ingram will get the start in goal tonight.

E-mail: rtychkowski@postmedia.com

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