Edmonton Oilers News

Ekholm missed practice on Friday due to illness.

Ekholm has not practiced the past several days due to an illness but was able to play in Thursday's 3-2 loss to the Detroit Red Wings. Assuming this is the same illness he has battled earlier this week, he will likely play on Saturday against the Toronto Maple Leafs. The 34-year-old defenseman has four points (1G / 3A) in his last four games.

Mattias Ekholm
Ekholm (illness) is expected to play vs. Detroit on Thursday after missing practice on Wednesday.

Ekholm did not practice on Wednesday due to an illness but will likely play against the Detroit Red Wings on Thursday. The 34-year-old Ekholm is averaging 22:45 time-on-ice and has 22 points (7G / 15A) in 50 games this season.

Mattias Ekholm
Skinner will start vs. Detroit on Thursday.

Skinner was not available in Monday's 4-2 win over the Seattle Kraken, attending to the birth of his child, but he will return to the crease on Thursday against the Detroit Red Wings. The 26-year-old Skinner was excellent in his most recent outing, saving 39 of 41 shots (.951 SV%) in a 3-2 win over the Buffalo Sabres. Skinner has been terrific lately, posting a .920 SV% in his last 19 games (13-5-1). The Oilers enter Thursday's contest as sizeable -258 home favorites against a Red Wings squad riding a three-game winning streak.

Stuart Skinner
Nurse (illness) is on the ice for warmups and is expected to play against the Kraken on Monday.

Nurse is battling an illness and his status for Monday's game against the Seattle Kraken was up in the air. The 29-year-old Nurse is averaging 21:44 time-on-ice and 21 points (4G / 17A) in 46 games this season.

Darnell Nurse
Pickard will start vs. Seattle on Monday.

The Oilers will welcome Connor McDavid back into the lineup after serving a three-game suspension and turn to Pickard between the pipes against the Seattle Kraken while Stuart Skinner is away for personal reasons. Pickard was solid in his most recent outing, saving 24 of 26 shots (.923 SV%) in a 6-2 win over the Vancouver Canucks. He has a 2.50 GAA and .899 SV% in 18 appearances this season (12-4-0). The Oilers enter Monday's contest as -285 home favorites against a Kraken team they defeated 4-2 on January 4th.

Calvin Pickard
Skinner (personal) did not participate in Monday's morning skate due to the birth of his child.

Skinner was absent from practice on Monday, attending to the birth of his child. Calvin Pickard will be between the pipes for the Oilers on Monday against the Seattle Kraken. The next game for the Oilers will be on Thursday against the Detroit Red Wings.

Stuart Skinner
Pickard is in the starter's crease at Edmonton's morning skate.

The Oilers will welcome Connor McDavid back into the lineup after serving a three-game suspension and likely turn to Pickard between the pipes against the Seattle Kraken. Pickard was solid in his most recent outing, saving 24 of 26 shots (.923 SV%) in a 6-2 win over the Vancouver Canucks. He has a 2.50 GAA and .899 SV% in 18 appearances this season (12-4-0). The Oilers enter Monday's contest as -285 home favorites against a Kraken team they defeated 4-2 on January 4th.

Calvin Pickard
McDavid will return from a three-game suspension vs. Seattle on Monday.

McDavid was suspended after delivering a high cross-check on Conor Garland of the Vancouver Canucks. It's the second time McDavid has been suspended in his career, after he received a two-game suspension for a high hit on Nick Leddy back in 2019. The Oilers went 2-1-0 in McDavid's absence.

Connor McDavid
Pickard will start vs. Vancouver on Thursday.

The Oilers have lost two straight (0-2-0) and will turn to Pickard between the pipes on Thursday against the Vancouver Canucks. Pickard was solid in his most recent outing, saving 31 of 34 shots (.912 SV%) in a 5-3 win over the Minnesota Wild. The 32-year-old Pickard has a 2.53 GAA and .897 SV% through 17 appearances this season (11-4-0). The Oilers enter Thursday's contest as -177 home favorites against a Canucks squad they defeated 3-2 less than a week ago.

Calvin Pickard