Ryan Nugent-Hopkins is expected to sit out tonight's game, joining a list of Edmonton Oilers stars like Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, Mattias Ekholm, Stuart Skinner, Trent Frederic, John Klingberg, and Evander Kane who are unavailable. In financial terms, that's a hefty $42.2 million in salary out of action.
The silver lining? Most of these guys are gearing up to hit the ice by playoff time.
Nugent-Hopkins is down with an illness, but there's hope on the horizon. This morning, McDavid, Draisaitl, Ekholm, Skinner, and Kane were all on the rink.
Skinner might slip back into at least a backup role come Friday's matchup against San Jose. We can expect Ekholm, McDavid, and Draisaitl back in about a week.
Frederic is undergoing further tests for his high ankle sprain today, but optimism is in the air that he’ll be playoff-ready. Kane will definitely be in the playoffs, though his participation in Game One remains uncertain.
Meanwhile, Klingberg battles an infection, putting his return date up in the air.
As for tonight, the Oilers are up against the NHL's hottest team, the St. Louis Blues. The Blues have claimed victory in 12 of their last 13 games and although their winning streak was snapped by Winnipeg, they've been relentless in their attack and sturdy in their defense over the last seven weeks.
Tackling the Blues will be no small feat for Edmonton. The Oilers had their moments against Anaheim, but their power play struggled noticeably, going 0-for-6. Despite solid efforts from their bottom-six forwards like Mattias Janmark, Connor Brown, and Max Jones, they failed to capitalize on their chances.
To pull off a victory tonight, the Oilers might need to embrace a tight, low-scoring affair. Denying the Blues any easy opportunities will be key. Edmonton's offensive hopes rest on the shoulders of Zach Hyman, Viktor Arvidsson, Jeff Skinner, and Adam Henrique to ignite the scoresheet.
Even depleted, the Oilers' blue line continues to prove productive, ranking sixth in points league-wide. With Evan Bouchard, Jake Walman, and Darnell Nurse among the top even-strength scoring defenders, the team still possesses offensive spark. They’ll look to replicate the promising opportunities they generated against Anaheim to find success tonight.
QUICK HITS...
— Robert Thomas is lighting it up, riding a nine-game point streak with 20 points. His 35 points over the last 23 games place him at the top of the NHL leaderboard, just edging out Nikita Kucherov.
— The Blues have been an offensive juggernaut since the 4-Nations Face-Off, averaging 3.78 goals per game, while allowing just 2.26. Their goal differential stands at a league-best +1.52. With a record of 18-3-2, they've set the standard for success.
— Can the Blues sustain this fiery form into the postseason? They’ve got just three games left: tonight, Saturday in Seattle, and next Tuesday at home against Utah. A likely playoff showdown against Vegas awaits, and with three games in 11 days, the Blues must balance rest with keeping their edge.
— Calvin Pickard, a shining example of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication, is nominated for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy. His journey hasn’t been smooth, oscillating between leagues, but his positive attitude and grit have left a lasting impression.
"I’ve been grinding for a while, but last year things really started clicking for me," Pickard shared. He credits his teammates but is a true inspiration in his own right.
Oilers
Hyman – Henrique – Perry
Podkolzin – Philp – Arvidsson
Skinner – Janmark – Brown
Jones – Kapanen
Walman – Bouchard
Nurse – Stecher
Kulak – Emberson
Pickard
Noah Philp gears up for his 13th game of the season. Lines are always in flux, and with McDavid and Draisaitl active in morning rushes, expect to see plenty of different combinations on the ice.
Blues
Buchnevich – Thomas – Snuggerud
Neighbours – Schenn – Kyrou
Joseph – Sundqvist – Bolduc
Toropchenko – Faksa – Walker
Broberg – Faulk
Fowler – Leddy
Suter – Tucker
Binnington
Dylan Holloway's absence for the rest of the regular season is a tough pill to swallow. Before his injury, he was having a phenomenal breakout season with 26 goals and 63 points in 77 games. His loss hits hard just as playoffs loom—it’s a blow for the Blues’ roster.
TONIGHT...
