Defenceman Mattias Ekholm will not be available for Edmonton’s first-round playoff series against the Los Angeles Kings, Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch said Monday.
Ekholm returned to action Friday in Edmonton’s 4-2 win over visiting San Jose after a seven-game absence due to an undisclosed injury. But he left the game when he re-aggravated the ailment after playing a couple of shifts.
The blow is a significant one for the Oilers, who will be without one of the defencemen on their top pairing to open the playoffs.
Ekholm has nine goals and 24 assists in 65 games this season.
Knoblauch also said superstars Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl would not play Monday night against the visiting Kings. Forwards Zach Hyman and Trent Frederic and defencemen Jake Walman and Troy Stetcher also won’t suit up against the Kings.
McDavid returned from injury recently and is being rested to end the Oilers’ run of three games in four nights. Draisaitl, who has been out with a nagging injury, is expected back for the start of the playoffs.
The Oilers and Kings are locked into a first-round series, but home-ice advantage is still in play. The Kings led the Oilers by two points for second place in the Pacific Division heading into Monday’s game.
