Edmonton Oilers News

Draisaitl was originally ruled out for Edmonton's game against Calgary on Saturday but will test out his injury during the team's morning skate and re-determine his availability. The 29-year-old Draisaitl has 101 points and leads the league with 49 goals through 68 games this season.

Emberson will make his first appearance since March 16th, slotting in for Derek Ryan as the Oilers opt to dress seven defencemen on Thursday. Emberson has zero goals and ten assists in 65 games this season.

Ekholm was a surprise scratch on Thursday, with the team not announcing his absence prior to warmups. John Klingberg will draw into the lineup in his place.

On the tail-end of a back-to-back, Pickard will be between the pipes on Thursday against the Seattle Kraken. The 32-year-old Pickard was excellent in his most recent start, saving 29 of 30 shots (.967 SV%) in a 7-1 win over the Utah Hockey Club. He has a 2.63 GAA and .901 SV% in 27 appearances this season (17-7-1).

With Stuart Skinner battling an upper-body injury, the Oilers have recalled Rodrigue from the Bakersfield Condors (AHL), likely to serve as Calvin Pickard's backup. The 24-year-old Rodrigue has never played an NHL game and has a 3.05 GAA and .899 SV% in 40 games this season (18-15-7) with Bakersfield.

On the tail-end of a back-to-back, Pickard will likely be between the pipes on Thursday against the Seattle Kraken. The 32-year-old Pickard was excellent in his most recent start, saving 29 of 30 shots (.967 SV%) in a 7-1 win over the Utah Hockey Club. He has a 2.63 GAA and .901 SV% in 27 appearances this season (17-7-1).

The Oilers won their previous game, 5-4 over the Seattle Kraken, with Connor McDavid (undisclosed) and Leon Draisaitl (undisclosed) out of the lineup, and will be without them again on Wednesday against the Dallas Stars. Skinner saved 27 of 31 shots (.871 SV%) in that contest and will be tending the twine again on Wednesday. He has a 2.87 GAA and .895 SV% in 48 games this season. The Oilers enter Wednesday's contest as +119 home underdogs against a Stars club coming off a 3-0 win over the Minnesota Wild.

Lazar did not play in New Jersey's previous game, but he will re-enter the lineup on Wednesday against the Chicago Blackhawks. The 30-year-old Lazar is averaging 10:30 time-on-ice and has five points (2G / 3A) in 43 games this season.

Draisaitl did not play in Edmonton's previous game, and he will miss at least three more, including games against the Dallas Stars, Seattle Kraken, and Calgary Flames. His absence from the lineup is a crushing blow for an Oilers' offense that is already without Connor McDavid (undisclosed). The 29-year-old Draisaitl has 101 points and leads the league with 49 goals through 68 games this season.

McDavid did not play Edmonton's previous game and will miss at least the next three, including contests against the Dallas Stars, Seattle Kraken, and Calgary Flames. Few updates have been provided surrounding McDavid's injury but it's a devasting blow for an Edmonton offense that is already without Leon Draisaitl (undisclosed). The 28-year-old McDavid is averaging 22:08 time-on-ice and has 90 points (26G / 64A) in 63 games this season.

Lazar has been a regular in the lineup for the Devils lately, but he will be a healthy scratch on Monday against the Vancouver Canucks. The 30-year-old Lazar is averaging 10:30 time-on-ice and has five points (2G / 3A) in 43 games this season.

Skinner exited Thursday's 4-3 loss to the Winnipeg Jets for precautionary reasons and will be ready to suit up on Saturday against the Seattle Kraken. That said, Oilers' head coach Kris Knoblauch did not specify if Skinner or Calvin Pickard would be between the pipes on Saturday.

Oilers' head coach Kris Knoblauch made it clear the team's main priority is having Leon Draisaitl healthy for the playoffs, which could potentially limit his usage down the stretch, and will miss his second consecutive game on Saturday. The 29-year-old Draisaitl is averaging 21:39 time-on-ice and has 101 points (49G / 52A) in 68 games this season. He had a career-high 55 goals in the 2021-22 season. With Connor McDavid also battling an undisclosed injury, the Oilers will be without their top two forward on Saturday and possibly beyond.

McDavid exited Thursday's 4-3 loss to the Winnipeg Jets after 14:59 time-on-ice on due to an undisclosed injury and will not play on Saturday as he has further testing done. The 28-year-old McDavid has 90 points (26G / 64A) in 63 games this season and has 19 points (4G / 15A) in during a 13-game point streak. With Leon Draisaitl also battling an undisclosed injury, the Oilers will be without their top two forwards on Saturday.