The Edmonton Oilers could have another disadvantage against the Los Angeles Kings in the first round of the playoffs.
The Pacific Division rivals clash on Monday night as the regular season winds down. But the Oilers won’t be playing with their ideal lineup, and that could drag into the playoffs. The Kings, meanwhile, look to be fully healthy when April 19 comes around.
Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch provided injury updates on Monday. The biggest concern is that defenseman Mattias Ekholm will miss the first round. The 34-year-old only played 1:52 of ice time in April and reportedly suffered a significant injury.
Trade deadline acquisition Trent Frederic is also questionable for Game 1 of the playoffs. The 27-year-old center has only played in one game for Edmonton, and that was only for about seven minutes against the Kings on April 5.
Superstar Connor McDavid and Zach Hyman will also not play against Los Angeles on Monday for precautionary reasons. McDavid missed eight games in late March, while Hyman hasn’t played for the Oilers since Friday, when he left the game with an injury.
Leon Draisaitl, Jake Walman and Troy Stetcher also remain out, but Knoblauch expects them to be ready for Game 1. Evander Kane still needs to be cleared to play for the first time this season, but he’s looking good, Knoblauch added.
With all these injuries creating holes in the Oilers’ lineup, the team called up defenseman Josh Brown from the AHL’s Bakersfield Condors. Quinn Hutson will also make his NHL debut after signing an entry-level contract on Monday. The forward is the oldest brother of the Montreal Canadiens’ Lane Hutson and Washington Capitals’ Cole Hutson.
As it stands for the Kings, they’re expected to have a mostly healthy lineup by the time Game 1 arrives.
D-man Joel Edmundson is unavailable due to an upper-body injury, and left winger Tanner Jeannott hasn’t played since March 25. It’s uncertain whether both will be ready for the playoffs.
The Kings have a three-point lead over the Oilers in the standings and can clinch home-ice advantage. No team has won more games at home this season than the Kings’ 31.
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