Avalanche vs. Oilers: Isaac Howard Gets His Chance
EDMONTON, AB – The Edmonton Oilers are gearing up for a crucial matchup against the NHL-leading Colorado Avalanche at Rogers Place on Monday night. With playoff positioning on the line, the Oilers will see a shakeup in their top six, as forward Isaac Howard steps in to replace the injured Max Jones.
Howard Called Up from Bakersfield
Howard, recently called up from the Bakersfield Condors, will skate alongside Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Jack Roslovic. This is a significant opportunity for the 22-year-old, who has been impressive in the AHL this season, racking up 47 points (22 goals) in 45 games. He’s also shown flashes in his previous 29 NHL games with the Oilers, contributing two goals and three assists.
“I think he’s just more seasoned,” said Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch. “He’s played in the American Hockey League for a good portion of his season this year, and he’s played a handful of NHL games. He’s a better player today than he was the first month or two of the season.”
Playoff Push Intensifies
The Oilers need to win both of their remaining regular-season games – against the Avalanche and the Vancouver Canucks – to have the best chance of winning the Pacific Division or securing home-ice advantage for the first two rounds of the playoffs. Howard expressed his excitement about rejoining the team and contributing to their playoff push.
“I know all the guys in the room and stuff, so it makes it pretty easy to come back up here and play,” Howard said. “So I’m just excited to be back here anytime I get the chance. Just excited to play, and other than that, I’m just going to work on the same details I’ve been working on and I’m excited to go out there and play.”
Injury Updates: Draisaitl, Hyman, and Dickinson
The Oilers will continue to be without key players Leon Draisaitl, Zach Hyman, and Jason Dickinson. Hyman is doubtful for Thursday’s game against the Canucks, while Draisaitl is trending towards a return sometime during the first round of the playoffs. Dickinson will miss the remainder of the regular season and will be re-evaluated before the playoffs.
Draisaitl provided an update on his recovery, stating, “It’s just progressed from there. It’s got better, and it feels pretty good right now, but there are many steps still to go.”
Projected Lineup vs. Avalanche
- Podkolzin – McDavid – Savoie
- Howard – Nugent-Hopkins – Roslovic
- Dach – Samanski – Frederic
- Lazar – Henrique – Kapanen
- Ekholm – Bouchard
- Nurse – Murphy
- Walman – Emberson
- Ingram
- Jarry
Despite the injuries, Knoblauch remains optimistic about the team’s depth. “We’ll miss [Jones], but we also do have a lot of options,” he said. “We have depth to put in for the playoffs. Right now, we’re a little thin, but hopefully by the time the playoffs start, we’ll have some more guys back.”
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