As the clock ticks nearing the Edmonton Oilers first game against the Anaheim Ducks in round 1 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, sources report promising news before the puck drops at 7:00 P.M. PST.
After opting out of the Oilers optional morning skate Monday morning, head coach Kris Knoblauch shares that there are “no updates” about star center Leon Draisaitl returning in Game 1, following Sunday’s practice.
“As we’ve said before, we expect him sometime during this first round,” Knoblauch stated. “Now (in) playoffs, it’s a little more secret as to what our lineups will be and we’re not going to announce who’s playing and what our lines are going to be exactly. You guys (the media) will have to do some homework. You’ll have to wait and find out what our lineup looks like tonight.”
However, ESPN’s NHL insider Emily Kaplan shared her sources claim that Draisaitl is “expected to play after missing a month with a lower body injury” despite Knoblauch’s comments.
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Oilers’ Leon Draisaitl Shares That He ‘Feels Good’ After Sunday’s Practice
On March 15, the Edmonton Oilers suffered a major loss after Leon Draisaitl went down with a lower body injury against the Nashville Predators. His injury occurred in the first period of the game, causing the center to miss the final 14 games of the regular season.
The Oilers were 8-6 in the final stretch of the season without Draisaitl, allowing the Vegas Golden Knights to squeak their way to first place in the Pacific Division.
As the Oilers gear up to face another division foe in the first round, Draisaitl was a full-participant for the second practice in a row before Monday’s game. The 30-year-old made sure to let fans know how he was feeling post-practice:
“I feel good, we’ll see how it feels tomorrow and then we’ll make a call from there,” Draisaitl said after Sunday’s practice. “It’s been good. Our staff, mainly (strength and conditioning coach Chad Drummond and assistant athletic therapist Chris Davie), they’ve done an amazing job being patient with me and looking at everything that there is to look at. So, I’m very grateful for those two and everyone else that was involved with it.
TSN’s Edmonton reporter Ryan Rishaug shared via X that Draisaitl opting out of Monday’s morning skate a “sign” that he will be in.
While the center didn’t make it abundantly clear that he was ready for Game 1, his response showed a glimmer of hope.
“It’s a lot of lonely times when you’re hurt; guys are on the road, you’re kind of grinding by yourself,” Draisaitl said. “I’m happy where it’s at right now, we’ll see how it evolves and we’ll see how I feel tomorrow.”
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Edmonton Oilers Injury Report
While Leon Draisaitl is the most notable player still questionable for the playoffs, Oilers forward Jason Dickinson is also on the injury report. Dickinson has been out since April 8, after a lower body injury against the San Jose Sharks.
Dickinson, similarly to Draisaitl was a full-participant in Sunday’s practice, however, Kris Knoblauch did not allude that he would be seeing the ice in Game 1.
Despite Knoblauch’s cryptic comments, the Oilers projected lineup against the Ducks is as follows:
Savoie – McDavid – Hyman
Podkolzin – Draisaitl – Kapanen
Nugent-Hopkins – Dickinson – Roslovic
Dach – Henrique – Frederic
Ekholm – Bouchard
Nurse – Murphy
Walman – Emberson
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Edmonton Oilers Share Breaking News On Leon Draisaitl Before Game 1