Calgary is getting some encouraging news on captain Mikael Backlund, even if his return won’t come tonight.
Ryan Pike of Daily Faceoff Calgary reported earlier today that Backlund is close to coming back for the Flames after sitting out the past week with a lower-body injury. The 37-year-old forward remains out against the Detroit Red Wings, but he could be an option Monday when Calgary hosts the Toronto Maple Leafs. Backlund had one goal and two points in eight games before getting hurt.
The update on Jonathan Huberdeau is more tempered. Pike also said the winger, who has been working back from offseason hip-resurfacing surgery, is not close to returning yet. Huberdeau will start practicing with Calgary from time to time, but there’s still a ways to go before he’s back in the lineup.
In Edmonton, the Oilers are facing a tougher short-term loss on defense. Sportsnet’s Mark Spector reported that Mattias Ekholm is dealing with a concussion, leaving him out for the foreseeable future.
The Oilers had not specified netminder Devon Levi’s injury, but the update on Ekholm makes the picture clearer for a team that usually pairs him with Evan Bouchard. That duo has put up a 56.7% xGoals% this season, per MoneyPuck.
There was also a setback for San Jose forward Igor Chernyshov. Curtis Pashelka of the Bay Area News Group reported that Chernyshov had already gone home before the Sharks’ game against the Boston Bruins, after suffering an upper-body injury against the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday.
He’s expected to miss the next few weeks. Chernyshov has two goals and four points in 11 games this season.
In Other News...
Oilers Suddenly Have Questions Their Record Was Hiding
The Oilers early record had bought them plenty of breathing room, but the 7-2 loss to the Maple Leafs in Toronto was a reminder that the standings can hide as much as they reveal. Edmonton fell to 8-2-1 and suffered only its second regulation loss of the season, even with Leon Draisaitl scoring twice to keep the offense from going completely quiet.
What stood out more than the score was how exposed Edmonton looked in its own zone and in a few line combinations that never seemed to settle the game. Former Oilers Jack Roslovic and Troy Stecher were part of the damage, and the rough night in goal only added to the unease, leaving the kind of follow-up questions that tend to linger after a teams first real blowout loss. [Read more 🡒]
Jack Roslovic Returns To Edmonton With Oilers Fans Watching One Thing
Jack Roslovics early run with the Toronto Maple Leafs has given him a little more visibility than usual, and it has also put his old NHL stops back in the spotlight. Since signing a two-year deal with Toronto, Roslovic has picked up four goals and 10 points in his first 10 games, including a goal and three points against the Columbus Blue Jackets and an assist against the New York Rangers, two of the teams he has already faced from his previous stops around the league.
For Edmonton fans, the more interesting part is seeing Roslovic look back on his time with the Oilers while sizing up the next chapter of his career. He has already spent time with Columbus, New York and Edmonton, and he had plenty of praise for captain Connor McDavids skill and work ethic. What stands out now is how Roslovic views the lessons he took from those stops, and what his return to Edmonton might mean when the attention turns back to the building he knows well. [Read more 🡒]
Oilers Get A Tough Test From Torontos Hottest New Decision
Toronto is bringing a different look into its meeting with the Oilers, with Anthony Stolarz getting the start in goal after coach Jim Hiller made the call. Sergei Bobrovsky will back him up, giving Edmonton a fresh challenge in net as it tries to keep its offense rolling against a goalie setup that has changed the feel of this matchup.
The lineup wrinkle does not stop there, either, with Dakota Mermis set for his season debut on defense as Toronto works through injuries. For an Oilers team that is always paying close attention to pace and transition chances, the Leafs shorthanded blue line adds another layer to a game already shaped by a notable decision in goal. [Read more 🡒]