Oilers’ Howard out week-to-week with lower-body injury

A young up-and-comer is going to miss an extended period of time.

When speaking to the media on Tuesday, Edmonton Oilers head coach Mike Babcock revealed that forward Isaac Howard is considered week-to-week with a lower-body injury.

Babcock noted that Howard is doing better and seems optimistic that he’ll return sooner rather than later.

“[Howard] is good,” Babcock said. “He’s going to be out a couple weeks, I think. But it’s nothing. It’s not a big deal.”

Howard was hurt during Saturday night’s game between the Oilers and the New York Islanders. Early in the first period, Islanders forward Emil Heineman delivered a knee-on-knee hit to Howard in the neutral zone.

Howard needed assistance getting off the ice. He returned to the Edmonton locker room and was later ruled out for the rest of the game, logging just 30 seconds of ice time. Heineman was given a five-minute major penalty for kneeing and a game misconduct.

For Howard, who has played in all but two games for the Oilers so far this season, he will miss at least the remainder of the team’s road trip out East, which concludes on Tuesday night against the New Jersey Devils. Edmonton returns home on Thursday, taking on the Anaheim Ducks, beginning a four-game homestand.

In just his second season with the Oilers, the 2025 Hobey Baker winner has produced a little bit on the offensive end. In 13 contests, he has scored a goal and three points, just a couple off matching his five-point performance from last season, where he dressed in 29 games.

The Oilers (11-2-2) sit atop the Pacific Division, four points ahead of the Vegas Golden Knights.