Injury will keep Oilers defenceman Ekholm out of first-round playoff series against Kings

CBC News

· Posted: Apr 14, 2025 4:15 PM EDT | Last Updated: 35 minutes ago

Defenceman Mattias Ekholm volition not beryllium disposable for Edmonton's first-round playoff bid against the Los Angeles Kings, Oilers manager Kris Knoblauch said Monday.

Ekholm returned to enactment Friday successful Edmonton's 4-2 triumph implicit visiting San Jose aft a seven-game lack owed to an undisclosed injury. But helium near the crippled erstwhile helium re-aggravated the ailment aft playing a mates of shifts.

The stroke is simply a important 1 for the Oilers, who volition beryllium without 1 of the defencemen connected their apical pairing to unfastened the playoffs.

Ekholm has 9 goals and 24 assists successful 65 games this season.

Knoblauch besides said superstars Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl would not play Monday nighttime against the visiting Kings. Forwards Zach Hyman and Trent Frederic and defencemen Jake Walman and Troy Stetcher besides won't suit up against the Kings.

McDavid returned from wounded precocious and is being rested to extremity the Oilers' tally of 3 games successful 4 nights. Draisaitl, who has been retired with a nagging injury, is expected backmost for the commencement of the playoffs.

The Oilers and Kings are locked into a first-round series, but home-ice vantage is inactive successful play. The Kings led the Oilers by 2 points for 2nd spot successful the Pacific Division heading into Monday's game.