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.
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.
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.
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. 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.
The Oilers have outscored their opposition 12-3 during a three-game winning streak and will likely turn to Skinner between the pipes on Thursday against the Winnipeg Jets. The 26-year-old Skinner was solid in his most recent outing, saving 21 of 22 shots (.955 SV%) in a 3-1 win over the New York Rangers. He has a 2.84 GAA and .897 SV% in 46 games this season (23-17-4). The Oilers enter Thursday's contest as slight -111 home favorites against a Jets club coming off a disappointing 6-2 loss to the Vancouver Canucks.
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. 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.
Emberson will sit for just the third time this season when the Oilers host Utah on Tuesday. Mattias Ekholm (illness) will rejoin the lineup in his place.
With Zach Hyman (undisclosed) expected to return to the lineup on Tuesday against the Utah Hockey Club, Jones will head to the sidelines as a healthy scratch. The 27-year-old Jones has one point (0G / 1A) and is averaging 9:13 time-on-ice in 12 games this season.
With Mattias Ekholm (illness) returning from a six-game absence, Stecher will be a healthy scratch. The 30-year-old Stecher is averaging 13:44 time-on-ice and has seven points (3G / 4A) in 53 games this season.
Ekholm has missed the previous six games for the Oilers, battling an illness, but will return to the lineup on Tuesday against the Utah Hockey Club. The 34-year-old Ekholm has 27 points (8G / 19A) in 60 games this season. Troy Stecher will exit the lineup to accommodate Ekholm's return.
Hyman did not play on Sunday and saw limited ice-time in the Oilers' previous game, but will likely return to the lineup on Tuesday against the Utah Hockey Club. The 32-year-old Hyman is averaging 19:11 time-on-ice and has 37 points (22G / 15A) in 61 games this season. Max Jones will likely exit the lineup to accommodate Hyman's return.
The Oilers are riding a two-game winning streak and will turn to Pickard between the pipes for the second time in the last three games. Pickard was solid in his previous outing, saving 24 of 25 shots (.960 SV%) in a 2-1 overtime win over the New York Islanders. The 32-year-old goalie has a 2.67 GAA and .898 SV% in 25 appearances this season (16-7-0). The Oilers enter Tuesday's contest as -165 home favorites against the Utah Hockey Club, coming off a 3-1 win over the Vancouver Canucks.
