Oilers hopeful Mattias Ekholm can return in Western Conference Final

The Edmonton Oilers may get a huge boost to the blue line if they can get past the Vegas Golden Knights.

Defencman Mattias Ekholm could play for the Oilers in the Western Conference Final, head coach Kris Knoblauch told reporters Tuesday.

Ekholm has been out since April 11 with an undisclosed injury. The 34-year-old returned to the lineup that night after a seven-game absence, but played only three shifts before leaving the ice.

"Mattias has been on the ice for light skates," said Knoblauch, whose Oilers lead the Golden Knights 3-1 in the series. "He will not be joining us this series. We're hopeful that he can join us next series if we're able to get to that.

Without Ekholm on the ice, Edmonton has relied on blue-liners Ty Emberson and Troy Stecher in the post-season. Emberson played the first nine games, while Stecher, who last played in the playoffs in 2022, got in the lineup for Game 4 on Monday.

While Ekholm is a big loss on the backend, the Oilers have reeled off seven wins in their last eight games after losing Games 1 and 2 in the first round to Los Angeles.

But the duo of Emberson and Stecher hasn't produced in the way the big lefty can. The two righties have zero points, and while Stecher played 16:46 in Game 4, Emberson hasn't logged double-digit minutes since Game 2 against the Kings.

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 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.

Game 5 between the Oilers and Golden Knights begins at 9:30 p.m. ET / 7:30 p.m. MT on Sportsnet and Sportsnet +.