Edmonton Oilers coach gives promising injury update on Ekholm ahead of Game 4
The Edmonton Oilers could get a huge boost to their blue line in time for Game 4 against the Dallas Stars on Tuesday.
Mattias Ekholm has yet to play in a playoff game this year after suffering a late-season injury, but it is starting to sound like a return is imminent. The veteran Swede has been skating and practicing with the team for the last week or so, but hasn’t been healthy enough to play.
He was ruled out before the first three games of the Western Conference Final, but Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch did not do that a day before Game 4 in Edmonton.
“Still undecided, he’s still day-to-day and we’ll do what’s best for our team and what’s best for him,” Knoblauch told reporters.
Coach Knoblauch met with the media today to provide updates on Ekholm, Pickard & Brown while also discussing the #Oilers five-on-five play, Skinner's efforts & more.@Enterprise | #LetsGoOilers pic.twitter.com/yDPBCMe6bB
— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) May 26, 2025
That wasn’t an outright confirmation that Ekholm would make his return in Game 4, but it is certainly promising that Knoblauch didn’t shut down the idea altogether. This should signal that things are trending well for the veteran to make a return sooner rather than later.
Ekholm also met with the media on Monday morning and gave another update on his health.
“I think it’s gonna be soon at least,” Ekholm said of his eventual return. “Whether it’s tomorrow, or the next game, or whatever it is, I’m happy with my body and the way I feel.
“It’s tough [to watch games]. It’s gotta be one of the tougher things I’ve been through in my hockey career.”
"I think it's gonna be soon. Whether it's tomorrow or the next game or whatever it is, I'm happy with my body & the way I feel. Really excited about where the team's at & how they're playing."
Mattias Ekholm on his potential return.@Enterprise | #LetsGoOilers pic.twitter.com/qqTel9l4k2
— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) May 26, 2025
Another promising injury update came from Knoblauch regarding Calvin Pickard. The journeyman goaltender has been out with an injury since Game 3 of the second round, but it does appear he will return to the Oilers bench on Tuesday to back up Stuart Skinner.
“We believe he is very close and there is a good possibility that he’s on our bench tomorrow,” Knoblauch said of Pickard.
While those are two positive injury updates, there was also a bit of bad news sprinkled on that front as well. After taking a high hit in the second period of Game 3, Connor Brown left the Oilers’ bench and did not return for the third period.
Brown will miss at least one game as he deals with that injury.
“Connor Brown is out tomorrow,” Knoblauch confirmed.
Viktor Arvidsson would be the obvious candidate to replace Brown in Game 4. Though if Ekholm is ready to go, Knoblauch could opt to play 11 forwards and seven defencemen.