The Oilers are still sorting through what Zach Hyman’s status will look like, and that one is firmly in the “wait and see” category. TSN’s Darren Dreger said it’s going to be a wait-and-see injury for Edmonton Oilers forward Zach Hyman.
Mike Babcock said after Monday’s game that Hyman had a similar injury in the first game of the season and missed six games. For now, he’s day-to-day while the team evaluates him.
There is better news on the Edmonton blue line. Mattias Ekholm said he has passed his return-to-play protocols and feels well enough that he could suit up today. Ekholm described the scare this way:
“It was scary at first. My legs just gave out and I couldn’t get up to my knees even, but as soon as I got down the tunnel it was like someone flipped the light switch back on and I was back to normal with no headaches or symptoms.
I’ve been feeling good since a few minutes after it happened. Luckily, I have felt good ever since.
I think have an angel watching over me, because it could have been a lot worse.”
In Dallas, the Stars are dealing with a few different injury timelines. Bruce LeVine reported that defenseman Esa Lindell is about a week away, forward Sam Steel should be back shortly, and forward Radek Faksa is a week or so from returning. Robert Tiffin also noted that defenseman Kyle Capobianco left last night’s game in the third period with a leg injury after a collision with Timo Meier.
Across the league, Anaheim is still tracking Troy Terry closely after offseason hip surgery. Eric Stephens reported that Terry has been skating since training camp, and the Ducks are hopeful he can join practice in early November.
The Ducks also have Pavel Mintyukov day-to-day with a lower-body injury, and he’s on the IR. Ian Moore is on the IR with a lower-body injury as well and has just started skating.
Calgary got a positive step from Jonathan Huberdeau, who skated with the team for the first time on the weekend as he continues his return to play, according to Pat Steinberg.
Chicago had Bowen Byram back on the ice for morning skate in a no-contact jersey, and there may be a path to him playing soon. Mark Lazerus reported that, and CHGO Blackhawks passed along Frank Seravalli’s update: “Tuesday…he was able to physically test that upper-body injury with some bumping, some contact…to get a feel for how this injury is reacting,” and adds that he could play as early as Thursday.
Elsewhere, the Wild lost Jared Spurgeon in the second period after he blocked two shots in a row, according to Matt Komma. Nashville defenseman William Trudeau is skating while on IR, though Brooks Bratten said there hasn’t been an update on his timeline.
St. Louis got Alexey Toropchenko back after he missed the past 10 games with a shoulder injury.
One more note from out west: Hannah Kirkell reported that Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Carter Hart left practice with a limp.
In Other News...
Ducks Let Vancouver Off The Hook In A Brutal Overtime Loss
The Ducks had enough reason to think they were leaving Vancouver with at least a point after a game that featured better puck possession and a healthier share of shot attempts than they had been producing lately. After some rough stretches in recent weeks, Anaheim at least looked more connected for long portions of the night, which made the finish sting even more when the game spilled into overtime.
Vancouver ultimately found the opening it needed on the man advantage to close it out, and the Ducks were left sorting through another loss built on defensive lapses in key spots. Filip Hronek and Zeev Buium were among the players who had a tough time on the back end, and the breakdowns around them were hard to ignore in a game where Anaheim had done enough in transition and possession to make the result feel there for the taking. [Read more 🡒]
Ducks Just Hit A New Low In A Collapse Fans Wont Forget
The Ducks had enough offense to build two separate three-goal cushions at Honda Center, but not enough composure to finish the job against Vancouver in a 6-5 overtime loss that will linger. Anaheim kept finding answers during the night, only to watch the game slip away as the Canucks kept pressing and the Ducks failed to shut things down when it mattered most.
For a club already reeling, the defeat made it six losses in the last seven games and underscored how fragile their late-game execution has become. The power-play battle tilted the wrong way in the closing stretch, and what looked like a needed win for the Ducks instead turned into another painful reminder that even a strong start is not enough if the final minutes keep unraveling. [Read more 🡒]
Oilers Suddenly Face A Battle Of Alberta Lineup Question
The injury picture around Anaheim is starting to clear a bit, even if it is not all the way there yet. Joel Quenneville said Pavel Mintyukov is still day-to-day, while Ian Moore has gotten back on the ice and Troy Terry is moving closer to a return after hip surgery. For a Ducks club still sorting through its early-season availability, those are the kind of updates that can change the shape of a lineup before they turn into bigger news.
Terrys situation is the one worth watching most closely, because his comeback is inching toward the point where the Ducks may finally be able to count on him again. Around the league, teams like Nashville and Edmonton are also tracking players resuming skating or nearing returns, but Anaheims latest injury notes carry a little extra weight given how much the Ducks have had to juggle already. The next step is seeing how soon those positives turn into an actual lineup decision. [Read more 🡒]