The Anaheim Ducks are a little bit healthier heading into their second-round series against the Edmonton Oilers, especially when it comes to their blue-line.
According to the team, defenceman Cam Fowler is feeling good after skating and could be in the lineup for Game 1.
Fowler returned to practice on Sunday and he’ll still need to get final medical clearance after sitting out nearly three weeks following a knee-on-knee collision with Calgary’s Mark Giordano.
At the time of the injury, Ducks GM Bob Murray said he expected Fowler to miss “anywhere between two and six weeks.”
Getting Fowler back into the lineup will be a big boost for the Ducks against Edmonton’s high-powered offence. Fowler led all Ducks defencemen in ice time during the regular season and also serves on the club’s special teams.
The Ducks also played three games in Round 1 without Sami Vatanen due to an upper-body injury. According to head coach Randy Carlyle, the team could ice a fully healthy blue-line once Round 2 begins Wednesday.
Shea Theodore, who had been up-and-down between the NHL and AHL all season, played all four games in Round 1 and registered five points. Brandon Montour also stepped in, making his NHL post-season debut and registering one assist in four games against the Flames.
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