The Oilers have announced that Stuart Skinner will get the start in goal tonight vs. the Hurricanes, as the team is also set to welcome back Zach Hyman. Rejoice, Oilers fans, Zach Hyman returns from a five-month absence <a href='https://edmontonjournal.com/sports/hockey/nhl/cult-of-hockey/zach-hyman-edmonton-oilers-paul-coffey-darnell-nurse-kris-knoblauch-evan-bouchard' class='lien_marqueur' target='_blank' rel='noopener'>and is expected to rejoin the top line and spark the Oilers' offense</a> against the surging Carolina Hurricanes. <div align='center' class='pl20 pr20'><blockquote class='twitter-tweet' data-lang='en'><a href='https://twitter.com/EdmontonOilers/status/1989736198395629931'><div style='border:1px solid #CCCCCC;border-radius:10px;padding:20px;width:300px;'>Loading from Twitter ...</div></a></blockquote></div> That's not the only piece of news, as the lineup for tonight's game was revealed, and it will feature Stuart Skinner as the team's starting goalie. <div align='center' class='pl20 pr20'><blockquote class='twitter-tweet' data-lang='en'><a href='https://twitter.com/Bob_Stauffer/status/1989732055882895762'><div style='border:1px solid #CCCCCC;border-radius:10px;padding:20px;width:300px;'>Loading from Twitter ...</div></a></blockquote></div> <h3>The type of numbers Zach Hyman has put up over the last few seasons</h3> <a href='https://www.hockeylatest.com/nhl-team/edmonton-oilers/oilers-reveal-zach-hyman-status-and-starting-goalie-for-tonight-vs-blue-jackets' class='lien_marqueur' target='_blank' rel='noopener'>Hyman's return is welcome for the Oilers</a>, as he's been the team's most effective winger since the day he got here in the summer of 2021. He's put up consecutive goal-scoring seasons of 27, 36, 54, and 27 goals, truly earning his keep. He was also arguably the Oilers' top-performing forward in the 2025 playoffs before he went down with a fractured wrist against the Dallas Stars, which was a lethal blow to Edmonton's Stanley Cup hopes last June when they faced the Panthers. <h3>Why Zach Hyman's return is so important for the Oilers</h3> Hyman forechecks and backchecks like his life depended upon it. He hits hard, puck protects incredibly well, drives the net, and has had good enough hands to play well with demanding and high-skill teammates like Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. Hyman's return should provide a boost in performance on the wings, a spot where the Oilers have fallen apart when compared to last year. Even if Hyman comes back full strength and plays as good as his former high-performing self, that won't address the real issue of the team, which is the collapse of the two-way play of the team's defensemen so far this year. They'll need to regroup in a hurry if they want to have a chance to take down the high-flying Hurricanes tonight.