The Edmonton Oilers are set to begin their third-round playoff series missing one of their key defensemen.
Head coach Kris Knoblauch confirmed on Friday that Mattias Ekholm is not expected to play in the initial two games of the Western Conference Final. He is still recovering from an injury that has not been publicly disclosed.
Ekholm has been absent from the team`s lineup since April 11. Despite this, Knoblauch expressed optimism that the defenseman might be able to rejoin the team at some point later in the third round.
Edmonton will compete against the winner of the ongoing Dallas-Winnipeg series for the opportunity to advance to the Stanley Cup Final. The Dallas Stars currently hold a 3-2 lead in that series, with Game 6 scheduled for Saturday.
Knoblauch also provided an update on goaltender Calvin Pickard. Pickard took over the starting duties in the first round but sustained an injury midway through the second round. The 33-year-old netminder is also not ready for the start of the upcoming series, but the Oilers are hopeful for his eventual return.
In Ekholm`s absence from the defensive corps, Edmonton has relied on players like Ty Emberson and Troy Stecher. Emberson participated in the first nine games of the postseason, while Stecher, whose last playoff appearance was in 2022, was added to the lineup for Game 4 on Monday.
Tristan Blackwood