Oilers coach gives positive Troy Stecher update after scary play
The Edmonton Oilers got some good news about the status of defenceman Troy Stecher after a scary play last night.
During the third period of Edmonton’s eventual 1-0 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights, Stecher was defending the front of his net when he was struck in the head with a stray puck. The veteran defender went down in a heap and even Vegas players were calling for medical staff.
Luckily, Stecher was able to skate to the bench himself and it appeared he was clutching one of his ears and had blood on his hand. On replay, it looked like the puck hit him smack dab in the ear.
He left the game and did not return for the last 18 minutes of regulation.
Troy Stecher exits the game after taking a shot to the ear. pic.twitter.com/hybVQrSjol
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) December 4, 2024
For as scary as the play looked, it doesn’t sound like Stecher suffered any serious damage. Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch was asked after the game if he had heard any update on his condition and gave an encouraging response.
“I talked to him when we were walking off the ice and he said he’s fine,” Knoblauch said. “He’s got a little bandaid over his ear, I haven’t heard from the training staff… But I think he’s good.”
Coach Knoblauch commented on tonight's #Oilers loss to Vegas & provided an update on Troy Stecher.@Enterprise | #LetsGoOilers pic.twitter.com/IzU42Q3nd0
— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) December 4, 2024
Stecher has been playing some good hockey of late. Though he didn’t get on the scoresheet on Tuesday night, just like the rest of his teammates, the journeyman defenceman has managed three assists in each of the three previous games.
He has also been the best option besides Darnell Nurse on that second pairing and is being asked to play more than a player of his calibre probably should. If an injury did occur that would cause Stecher to miss games, the next man up would likely be Travis Dermott, who has been a healthy scratch for the last five games.
While the player and coach may think Stecher is fine, that decision will ultimately be made by the Oilers medical staff. Initial dialogue on Viktor Arvidsson was that he would be day-to-day and we are now nearing a month on the IR, so things can change quickly.
We’ll see if Stecher is ready to go when the Oilers return to Rogers Place for a game against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday night.