Hyman has missed the OIlers' previous four games with an undisclosed injury but returned to practice as a welcome sign on Monday as a full participant. The 33-year-old is still not expected to return vs. Colorado on Monday but is hopeful to be healthy for the Oilers' opening playoff series.
Edmonton welcomed back superstar forward Leon Draisaitl (lower-body) to practice on Monday although he is not expected to return vs. Colorado later in the evening. The 30-year-old German forward has been out since March 15th and currently sits just three points shy of the century mark, with 35-goals and 97 points in 65 games played before his injury. He is hopeful to return for Edmonton's opening round playoff series with today being an excellent sign in the right direction.
Joseph has been a healthy scratch for the last three games but he'll replace Jeff Malott (undisclosed) in the lineup on Saturday. Joseph has not registered a point in his first five games with the Kings.
Andersen allowed two goals on 25 shots in the Hurricanes' win in Chicago on Thursday. For the second time in a couple weeks, the Hurricanes will stick with Andersen for a second game in a row. Andersen has cleaned things up a bit recently and comes into Saturday at 7-3-0 with a 3.00 GAA and .862 SV% in his last 10 starts.
Mukhamadullin will slot in alongside Pavol Regenda and Ty Dellandrea as the Sharks opt to get some fresh legs into the lineup for the tail-end of their back-to-back. Adam Gaudette, Igor Chernyshov, and John Klingberg will all draw out of the lineup.
The Hurricanes are on the tail-end of a back-to-back, so Andersen will get the start when they travel to Chicago on Thursday. Andersen struggled in his last start, surrendering five goals on 30 shots in a 6-3 loss in Ottawa on Sunday. The 13-year-veteran has endured an up-and-down season between the pipes, posting a 14-14-5 record and an .870 SV% across 33 appearances. Luckily for Andersen, he does draw a favourable matchup on Thursday, as the Hurricanes enter action at -210 on the money line.
Samanski will slot in on Wednesday as the Oilers opt to get some fresh legs into the lineup for the tail-end of their back-to-back. Curtis Lazar will sit in his place.
John Klingberg will return from an injury on Wednesday, sending Mukhamadullin to the sidelines as a healthy scratch. The 24-year-old Mukhamadullin is averaging 16:51 time-on-ice and has 11 points (4G / 7A) in 45 games this season.
With Colton Dach returning from an injury, Samanski will be the odd man out of the lineup as a healthy scratch. The 24-year-old Samanski, in his first NHL season, has three points (1G / 2A) through 20 games with the Oilers.
Dach was acquired before the trade deadline, but only suited up in three games for Edmonton before suffering an undisclosed injury that has sidelined him for the past month. The 23-year-old second-year forward has 10 points (3G / 7A) in 56 games this season, primarily as a member of the Chicago Blackhawks.
The acquisition of Tristan Jarry has not panned out as hoped for the Oilers, with Connor Ingram being labelled as their starting goalie, but Jarry has played well in recent games and will tend the twine on Tuesday against the Utah Mammoth. The 30-year-old Jarry was solid in a 5-2 win over Utah two weeks ago, saving 16 of 18 shots (.889 SV%). He has wins in three of his last four appearances (3-1-0), posting a 3.03 GAA and .853 SV%. The Oilers enter Tuesday's contest as +115 road underdogs against a Mammoth team that has outscored opponents 19-8 over its last three games (3-0-0).
Hyman did not play in Saturday's 5-1 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights due to an undisclosed injury, but he should return to the lineup before the end of the season. The 33-year-old Hyman has 51 points (31G / 20A) in 57 games this season, an impressive turnaround after a disappointing 2024-25 campaign when he had only 44 points (27G / 17A) in 73 outings.
Draisaitl suffered a lower-body injury in mid-March that effectively ruled him out for the remainder of the regular season, but Oilers' Head Coach Kris Knoblauch suggested that Draisaitl being available for game one is a possibility. The 30-year-old German forward had another outstanding season but, unfortunately, fell short of the 100-point mark for the seventh time in his career due to his shortened season. He scored 97 points (35G / 62A) in 65 games this season.
