Oilers’ Mattias Ekholm remains out for Game 2 vs. Stars
Edmonton Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch officially ruled out the defenceman for Game 2 against the Dallas Stars on Friday, extending his absence because of an undisclosed injury from mid-April.
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Fans will have to wait a little bit longer, at least, for Mattias Ekholm‘s return to the ice.
Edmonton Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch officially ruled out the defenceman for Game 2 against the Dallas Stars on Friday, extending his absence because of an undisclosed injury from mid-April.
While Ekholm was already scratched for the first two contests of the Western Conference Finals prior to the Oilers’ 6-3 loss in Game 1 on Wednesday, there had been growing optimism that the Swede could return at some point during the series.
The 34-year-old was a full participant in practice on Monday, making a quicker return than expected when his initial injury timeline was set at 15 weeks, per Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman on the 32 Thoughts Podcast.
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“I didn’t think I would be in this position this quick. … Today was the first time with the team on the ice in a full practice. Now it’s a matter of how do I feel tomorrow? I’m trying to be on a day-to-day basis,” Ekholm told reporters after the skate concluded.
Without Ekholm on the ice, Edmonton has relied on blue-liners Ty Emberson and Troy Stecher. Emberson played the first nine games of the post-season, while Stecher, who last played in the playoffs in 2022, entered the lineup for Game 4 against the Vegas Golden Knights and has stayed in that slot since.
While Ekholm is a big loss on the back end, the Oilers have reeled off eight wins in their last 10 contests after losing Games 1 and 2 in the first round to Los Angeles.
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But after losing Game 1 in a WCF rematch against the Stars, after allowing five unanswered goals, they’d gladly welcome back the big lefty’s production.
Eklhom recorded nine goals and 33 points this season while logging over 22 minutes of ice time a night. He has 12 goals and 52 points in 112 career playoff games.
During Edmonton’s run to the Stanley Cup Final last year, the six-foot-five, 225-pound defenceman potted five goals and played nearly 22 minutes a night.
