Can the Oilers make the Stanley Cup run if Ekholm plays the playoffs? – Hockey Writer – Edmonton Oiler

The health of the veteran left-side defense quickly spreads rapidly in the oil country when Mattias Ekholm beats the San Jose Sharks in Rogers Place 4-2 from the Edmonton Oilers.

Related: 4 gains from Oilers beat Sharks 4-2

Ekholm returned from seven games due to injury, playing against the Sharks for less than two minutes before leaving the bench without returning.

Bad early reports

On Saturday (April 12), Oilers fans got news of their fear. TSN’s Ryan Rishaug is the first to provide the latest news about Ekholm’s health, partially posted to social media, “It is believed to be a serious injury, the worst case could end his season, and the best case will keep him on for a while.”

Hard news about oilers and Ekholm. Hearing there are further tests to do, but it is believed to be a serious injury, the worst case could end his season, and the best case will keep him on for a while.

– Ryan Rishaug (@tsnryanrishaug) April 12, 2025

Later, appeared in Canadian Hockey NightSportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman said the Oiler is preparing for a potential worst-case scenario, which is that he may not play for the rest of the year. ”

The oiler has not issued a statement to Ekholm. Friedman believes this is because the team is still trying to determine the exact nature of the injury and the subsequent recovery period.

Edmonton appears to be entering the 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs without the best all-around defensive player. Edmonton will face the Los Angeles Kings in the first round of the playoffs that will begin on April 19.

Oiler Will miss Ekholm very much

It was a devastating blow for the Oilers, who had the title after reaching Game 7 of the Stanley Cup final a year ago. As he won the deal in the 2022-23 season with the Nashville Predators, Ekholm has been a staunch player in Edmonton’s top defensive pairing, regularly recording over 20 minutes per game.

In the 2024 playoffs, Ekholm scored five goals and five assists in 25 games. The 34-year-old Swede has nine goals, 24 assists and 11 goals in 65 games this season.

Ekholm is the most experienced Blueliner of the Oilers, having played nearly 1,000 NHL games in the regular season and playoffs. He had an impact on both ends of the ice, but it was his reliable presence on the blue line, and he could always make the right game with confidence, and what Edmonton missed the most was. Ekholm is the ideal partner to balance right-side defender Evan Bouchard, an offensive soldier but prone to occurring defender.

So, can the Oilers play the playoffs again if Ekholm can’t play? There is recent evidence that maybe they can.

Oilers won without Ekholm

Ekholm was not injured in 13 of his last 18 games in Edmonton. He missed six games from March 6 to 16 before returning to four games, but was eliminated again in seven straight games against San Jose.

Without Ekholm, Edmonton managed to score 8-5-0 in the March and April matches. If Friday’s game is included, the record is 9-5-0. Several of these games are the Oilers also lack at least one superstar center, Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid.

Other oil workers must step up

One of the reasons Edmonton was able to continue winning in the absence of Ekholm was the match of Blueliner Brett Kulak on the left. Kulak, 31, improved his game in 2024-25, maintaining his career highest in goals, scoring, shooting obstacles and minutes while showing as pleasant and stable as Ekholm.

Jake Walman’s increase, who traded with Sharks on March 6, also helped a huge deal. Walman is also currently out, but is considered daily and is expected to be ready for the first game of the playoffs.

However, most of the key is Nurse Darnell. With the situation in Ekholm, the longest oiler defender will log in at the most time to the left of the blue line. The nurses still have occasional moments where fans face to face, but the 30-year-old has done well this season.

Of course, it’s one thing without Ekholm once. In fact, this is equivalent to a playoff series. If the Oilers will hold the Stanley Cup in June, they will need to win four playoff series.

Oil man faces the jet tonight

The Oilers may provide the latest news about Ekholm today (April 13) (April 13) before facing the Winnipeg Jets at the Canadian Living Centre. The game time is 5 pm.

After tonight, Edmonton has only two games left in the 2024-25 regular season schedule. Then enter the playoffs. No matter what kind of hands they are, these are the hands that oil people must play.