McDavid only played one shift on Monday night, exiting the game after only 37 seconds of ice time after awkwardly colliding into the boards. The superstar forward will return to Edmonton to be further evaluated. McDavid, averaging an absurd 1.7 points per game over the previous four seasons, had begun the 2024-25 campaign off to a slow start by his elite standards, with 10 points (3G / 7A) in 10 games. The Oilers lost Monday's contest 6-1 to the Columbus Blue Jackets and will be hopeful for positive news regarding McDavid's injury.
McDavid played just 37 seconds before exiting the game and now officially will not return. He appeared to injure himself after an awkward fall along the boards and skated off shortly afterwards. We should expect to receive an update on the status of his injury after Monday night's game.
On the tail end of a back-to-back set, Skinner will return to the crease for the Oilers on Monday night against the Columbus Blue Jackets. After allowing five goals on 13 shots (.615 SV%) in a 6-0 loss to the Winnipeg Jets in their first game of the season, Skinner has allowed three or fewer goals in each of his last five outings, including a 27-save shutout on Friday in a 4-0 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Oilers enter the action on Monday as -241 road favorites against the Blue Jackets.
On the front end of a back-to-back, the Oilers will turn to Pickard between the pipes. Pickard has only played once in the last six games but was stellar in that outing, saving 25 of 27 shots (.926 SV%) in a 4-2 win over the Nashville Predators. The Oilers enter the action on Sunday as -204 road favorites against the Red Wings.
Skinner took the loss his last time out, allowing three goals on 33 shots in a 3-2 overtime defeat to the Hurricanes. The 26-year-old netminder has struggled to open the season, posting a 1-3-1 record and an .866 SV% through five appearances. Luckily for Skinner, he's got a great opportunity to get back in the win column on Friday night. He draws a great matchup as the Oilers enter action as sizable favourites at -230.
Emberson was a healthy scratch on Tuesday but will re-enter the lineup on Friday against the Pittsburgh Penguins. The 24-year-old Emberson has zero points, a -3 plus/minus, five blocks, and six hits through five games this season.
Despite some shaky outings, the Oilers will turn to Skinner between the pipes for the fourth time in the last five games. Skinner allowed three goals on 23 shots (.870 SV%) in Saturday's 4-1 loss to the Dallas Stars and has allowed three or more goals in all four of his outings this season (1-3-0), posting an ugly 4.03 GAA and .851 SV%. The Oilers enter the action on Tuesday as -122 home favorites against a Carolina Hurricanes club off to a modest 2-2-0 start.
Travis Dermott will return to the lineup on Tuesday, sending Emberson back to the press box as a healthy scratch. The 24-year-old Emberson has zero points, a -3 plus/minus, five blocks, and six hits through five games this season.
O'Reilly was the 32nd overall pick of the Oilers in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft. The 18-year-old is in his third season with the London Knights. He had 56 points (20G / 36A) in 68 games with London last season.
After a disappointing three-game losing skid to start the season, the Oilers have won two straight and will return to Skinner between the pipes on Saturday afternoon in a rematch of the Western Conference Finals against the Dallas Stars. Skinner has allowed three or more goals in each of his three games this season (1-2-0), but was solid in his most recent outing, saving 27 of 30 shots (.900 SV%) in a 4-3 overtime win against the Philadelphia Flyers.
Fresh off of their first victory of the season, snapping a three-game losing skid, the Oilers will switch to Pickard between the pipes on Thursday evening against the Nashville Predators. The Predators are off to a rough start, one of only two teams yet to record a point in the standings (0-3-0), and as such, the Oilers enter gameplay as -126 road favorites. The 32-year-old Pickard has struggled in two appearances this season (0-1-0), posting a 4.17 GAA and .778 SV% but was excellent as the Oilers backup netminder last season, posting a 2.45 GAA and .909 SV% in 23 outings (12-7-1).
Nathan Walker will be a healthy scratch on Thursday, allowing Kapanen to re-enter the lineup for the Blues. The 28-year-old Kapanen has zero points in three games this season, recording a -3 plus/minus while averaging 15:14 time-on-ice.
Fresh off of their first victory of the season, snapping a three-game losing skid, the Oilers will switch to Pickard between the pipes on Thursday evening against the Nashville Predators. The Predators are off to a rough start, one of only two teams yet to record a point in the standings (0-3-0), and as such, the Oilers enter gameplay as -126 road favorites. The 32-year-old Pickard has struggled in two appearances this season (0-1-0), posting a 4.17 GAA and .778 SV% but was excellent as the Oilers backup netminder last season, posting a 2.45 GAA and .909 SV% in 23 outings (12-7-1).
Skinner has struggled early in the season, mirroring the Oilers' ability to score only three goals through three games (0-3-0). The 25-year-old Skinner has allowed eight goals on 41 shots (.805 SV%) through two games this season but is hopeful to return closer to his 2.69 GAA and .909 SV% accumulated over his 123-game career before the start of the 2024-25 campaign. The winless Oilers enter action on Tuesday as -190 home favorites against the Philadelphia Flyers.
Travis Dermott will be a healthy scratch on Tuesday, allowing Emberson to re-enter the lineup. Through two games this season, the 24-year-old Emberson has a -4 plus/minus and two penalty minutes while averaging 17:27 time-on-ice.
Stecher was a healthy scratch for Edmonton's first two games of the season but will make his debut on Sunday as he replaces Ty Emberson in the lineup. The 30-year-old defensemen was acquired at last year's trade deadline from Arizona, but only appeared in seven games for the OIlers, picking up two assists and a +4 plus/minus.
Emberson will find himself in the pressbox on Sunday vs. Calgary after just two games as he is replaced by Troy Stetcher in the Oiler's lineup. The 24-year-old's first two games in Edmonton have not gone as planned as the defensemen is without a point and has a -4 plus/minus while averaging 17:27 TOI/GP.
Pickard allowed one goal on seven shots after replacing Stuart Skinner in the Oilers' 6-0 loss to the Jets on opening night. With a back-to-back this weekend, Pickard will start the easier of the two matchups vs. the Blackhawks on Saturday. The Oilers are the biggest favourites (-348) on Saturday's slate and Pickard had a 27-save shutout in his only game against them last season.