The already-shorthanded Edmonton Oilers might have to play without their top shutdown defenceman for the remainder of the regular season and playoffs.
Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported on the "Saturday Headlines" segment of Hockey Night in Canada that the Oilers are preparing for the possibility that Mattias Ekholm will not return this year.
The Swede returned on Friday night after a seven-game absence with an undisclosed injury, but played just two shifts before he was forced to exit early after aggravating an existing ailment.
"A pretty innocuous-looking play that Ekholm suffered last night and immediately the news after the game was (that) it wasn't good," Friedman reported. "They haven't said anything officially yet because I still think they're trying to determine the exact recovery period, that's No. 1. No. 2, there's no confirmation on the exact injury, although there's been some rumbling that it's not the same one that he came back from to play in this particular game.
"They are preparing for the potential worst possible scenario, and that is he might not play the rest of the year."
Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch provided an update on Ekholm's status Sunday morning, telling reporters that the six-foot-five blue-liner is going to get a second opinion on his injury.
"Right now, it doesn't look like Mattias will be joining us immediately," Knoblauch said."
The Swede has recorded 33 points (nine goals and 24 assists) while averaging 22:12 minutes in 64 games this season.
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