Viktor Arvidsson back in the lineup for Edmonton Oilers with Brown out
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The thing is, even playing well doesn't automatically lead to inclusion.
Just ask Viktor Arvidsson.
An injury to Connor Brown in Game 3 of the Western Conference final on Sunday, compliments of a high body check from Dallas Stars defenceman Alex Petrovic, paved the way for Arvidsson to return to the lineup for the first time since Game 3 of the second-round series against the Vegas Golden Knights.
Up to that point, the Swedish product had four points (one goal, three assists) in nine playoff games. Not exactly invisible.
Nevertheless, Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch decided to make a change to his lineup, and Arvidsson found himself the odd man out.
Hard to argue, since Kasperi Kapanen came up with the series-clinching goal in overtime to cash out Vegas two games later.
But that still didn't mean it was an easy decision.
'I don't want to take anybody out, it's a tough situation,' Knoblauch said. 'We mixed up our forwards and took out Arvidsson, and Arvidsson had been playing pretty well.
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