Edmonton Oilers defenceman Jake Walman will sit out for a sixth time in the team’s past eight games against the Philadelphia Flyers on Wednesday.
Walman sat each of the past two games after returning to the lineup for a two-game stint last week after sitting for three straight.
The 30-year-old has the unfortunate designation of being in the lineup for losses (0-2-2) in each of his past four games despite the Oilers being 13-3-3 on the season.
He logged 12:18 of ice time against the Anaheim Ducks last Thursday after a season-low 11:46 against the New Jersey Devils two nights earlier.
“I’m the only guy really that knows what type of player I can be. I just got to do it and believe in myself,” Walman told Janson Duench of The Athletic of his season-to-date. “Confidence is the biggest thing. Controlling the play, driving the play, using my legs, getting up into the play, eating a lot of minutes, shutting top guys down. I thought I did that. I know I have that.”
For the season, Walman has one assist in 11 games while averaging 14:15 of ice time under new head coach Mike Babcock. He had eight goals and 20 points in 53 games last season while averaging 18:45 of ice time.
“You’re there for him,” Oilers star Leon Draisaitl told Duench. “But at the end of the day, Wally is a veteran, and I think he knows what he needs to do to get back in and impress our coaching staff in a way that they’re not able to take him out anymore.
“Wally’s been in the league, and he knows how to deal with it.”
Tristan Jarry will get the start for the Oilers on Wednesday against the Flyers. Devon Levi gets a rest after starting a second straight win Monday as Edmonton defeated the New York Rangers.
Jarry has a .902 save percentage and 2.57 goal-against average in eight starts this season.
Babcock also said forward Matthew Savoie will play a few games in the minors as he continues his rehab from an injury that has held him out all season.