Connor Brown will be in the Oilers’ lineup for tonight’s Game 1 against the Dallas Stars, while key defender Mattias Ekholm remains out, per a team release.
Brown missed the team’s gameday skate today, and coach Kris Knoblauch noted he’d be a game-time decision. However, Brown’s undisclosed injury will not keep him from playing in tonight’s contest. Brown will continue to skate next to Evander Kane and Adam Henrique on the team’s third line. Had Brown not been available, Viktor Arvidsson would have likely taken his place in the lineup, per TSN’s Ryan Rishaug.
Brown played every game for the Oilers this season, both during the regular season and the playoffs. He recorded 13 goals and 30 points in the regular season and has stepped up offensively in the playoffs, with four goals and seven points in 11 games. He’s averaging 15:19 of ice time per game in the playoffs.
Ekholm remains out but is progressing toward a return after fully participating in practice today, per Mark Spector of Sportsnet. As Spector notes, the team announced Ekholm will miss Games 1 and 2, but his full participation in practice today sparked speculation that his return could come sooner than expected.
Ekholm has played just once since late March, returning for a single game on April 11 after a seven-game absence, only to aggravate his injury again. The 34-year-old has missed all of the team’s playoff games. In 65 regular-season games, Ekholm recorded nine goals and 33 points while averaging 22:12 of ice time per game.