EDMONTON - As far as first impressions go, Eric Belanger and Ben Eager have had better beginnings.

But that was last season. This year, the two have shrewdly settled into their revamped roles with the Edmonton Oilers and quietly become key role players.

Belanger is the anchor on the third line, a regular on the penalty kill, and the Oilers’ faceoff leader. Eager, back from an early season concussion, has resumed his role as a hard-hitting fourth-line winger.

“It definitely helps when you’re playing,” said Eager. “Last year, they only rolled two, 2-1/2, three lines, but now guys are more accountable. If you’re playing well, you’ll play more; if you’re not, you’ll play less.

“So far, this year, it’s been more of a team game for sure.”

That has been one of the most notable changes with Ralph Krueger’s Oilers. He is not fixated on line matches and he is determined to roll four lines, often right into the third period.

“You do need that depth to have success,” said Belanger, “but this year, I’ve been involved in the games. Last year was last year, but this is what I was brought here for, for what I’m doing now, and it’s good to have an impact on the team again.

“When you are so involved in the game, you can just play. Even if you’re not feeling so good in the first 10 minutes, you know you’re going to have a chance to get going. You can play yourself out of it.”

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, who along with his first-line mates Taylor Hall and Jordan Eberle are playing just over 20 minutes a night, said it keeps them fresh, too, if there are more lines going. More importantly, continued Nugent-Hopkins, it injects more energy onto the bench.

Sam Gagner agreed that it’s key to have some depth and to have players contributing in different ways. Belanger picked up his first assist on the winning goal in Saturday’s 6-4 come-from-behind win over the Colorado Avalanche.

“Everyone is stepping up and helping out and it’s good for us as a team,” said Gagner. “(They) have really responded well to their roles. They’ve given us a big lift and they’re helping us win games.”

“You want to stay involved and, if you’re playing well, you want a coach that recognizes that,” said Eager, who signed a three-year, $3.3-million free-agent contract with the Oilers prior to the 2011-12 season.

He had been cast — miscast, perhaps — as a player who would come in and play the pugilist on a regular basis.

Krueger is convinced that Eager, who is ridiculously quick for a man carrying 236 pounds, can be even more effective by banging bodies.

Belanger’s three-year, $5.25-million free-agent deal expires after the 2013-14 season. He will go into Tuesday’s game against the Los Angeles Kings with 10 takeaways, second only to Jeff Petry, plus he’s got 10 blocked shots, one of which busted a couple of his toes, an injury he is still playing through.

“Our depth players, our penalty-killers, the physical guys have been playing with such a passion,” said Krueger. “These are the things that we need.

“In the Western Conference, the kind of toughness we need is the kind (Eager) is bringing us. We need players who will go through you every single time you have the puck. That’s what we’re really demanding of him and I’m pleased with the way he’s come off the injury to give us that. That’s a lot of weight coming at you at a very high speed.”

Eager has 15 hits in five games.

“I know I can play the game and I have more respect for myself than to just go out there and fight for no reason. I’ll be there for my teammates but I know I can play,” Eager said.

“It’s nice to get in on the forecheck and wear their D down. I think that does a lot. The last game, we all stuck with it. We got down by a few goals, but we were all chipping the puck in and finishing our checks and it paid off.

“By the third period, I think their D were gassed and we took over with our skill.”

jireland@jirelandEJ