The Edmonton Oilers will once again have to wait for a blue-line boost.
Injured defenceman Mattias Ekholm remains out of the lineup for Sunday’s Game 3 against the Dallas Stars, head coach Kris Knoblauch told reporters.
Meanwhile, Dallas may be without forward Roope Hintz, who is a game-time decision, per head coach Pete DeBoer, after leaving Game 2 following a slash from the Oilers’ Darnell Nurse.
Live coverage of the game will be available on Sportsnet and Sportsnet+ beginning at 3 p.m. ET / 1 p.m. MT.
The Stars and Oilers split the first two games of the series in Dallas.
-
-
Stanley Cup Playoffs on Sportsnet
The Edmonton Oilers host the Dallas Stars for Game 3 of the Western Conference Final with the series tied 1-1. Watch live Sunday on Sportsnet and Sportsnet+ with coverage starting at 2:30 p.m. ET / 12:30 p.m. MT.
Ekholm has not appeared in these playoffs after suffering an undisclosed injury in April.
The 34-year-old has been considered day-to-day throughout this series, sparking hopes of a quicker return than expected after his initial timeline was set at 15 weeks, per Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman on the 32 Thoughts Podcast.
Eklhom recorded nine goals and 33 points this season while logging over 22 minutes of ice time a night. He has 12 goals and 52 points in 112 career playoff games.
During Edmonton’s run to the Stanley Cup Final last year, the six-foot-five, 225-pound defenceman potted five goals and played nearly 22 minutes a night.
While the Oilers wait for the big Swede, their lineup will remain the same as it was in Game 2 on Sunday.
Hintz, 28, recorded five goals and six assists in 14 playoff games for the Stars prior to Game 2.
The play that knocked him out caused controversy between the teams but only resulted in a minor penalty against Nurse.
It is unclear who would replace Hintz in the Dallas lineup.
