Mattias Ekholm will be unavailable for the Edmonton Oilers for the foreseeable future.
Coach Kris Knoblauch announced on Monday that the defenseman will be sidelined for at least the entirety of the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet had previously reported that the Oilers were bracing for the possibility of Ekholm being out for the remainder of the season.
Ekholm`s recent return to the ice after missing seven games due to an undisclosed injury was short-lived. He played only two shifts in his comeback game on Friday before re-aggravating the injury and being forced to leave the game.
This season, 34-year-old Ekholm has been a significant contributor for the Oilers, amassing 33 points (9 goals, 24 assists) and playing an average of 22:12 minutes across 64 games.
In related team news, Connor McDavid and Zach Hyman were held out of Monday`s game against the Los Angeles Kings. McDavid`s absence is precautionary, while Hyman is recovering from an injury sustained on Friday.
Coach Knobluach indicated that while Leon Draisaitl and Hyman are unlikely to participate in the final two regular-season games, they are expected to be ready for Game 1 of the playoff series against the Kings.
The status of Evander Kane and Trent Frederic for Game 1 remains uncertain.
On a positive note, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins is set to return to the lineup on Monday after recovering from an illness.
Tristan Blackwood