The Edmonton Oilers got good and bad news on Tuesday night, specifically with respect to defenseman Jake Walman and forward Curtis Lazar. Both were injured in the comeback win, and both could miss a little time.
Lazar left Tuesday’s game early against the Ottawa Senators and did not return. Head coach Kris Knoblauch said it would be at least a week out before he returns to the lineup. As for Walman, it’s not expected to be too serious. Walman missed the third period, and it’s too soon to know if he’ll be out. Edmonton doesn’t play again until Friday against the Carolina Hurricanes.
Walman struggled on Tuesday. Reactions to the pairing(s) he was on were not positive. Darnell Nurse and Walman were particularly leaky in their own end. It sounds bad to say it, but the Oilers played a much better game in the final frame when he wasn’t on the ice.
Jake Walman Oilers return
Knoblauch noted, “I don’t think it’s very serious. The other five guys were playing well, and we didn’t have to push Jake and have him continue playing.” Even down a couple of goals, the Oilers chose not to force the issue and put the offensively solid Walman in.
The Oilers mounted a comeback against the Senators, winning 5-4 in overtime. Zach Hyman scored the game-tying goal, and Evan Bouchard scored the winner.
The Oilers will have a new face in the lineup Friday, as Connor Murphy joins them following the trade that brought him over from Chicago. Where he’ll slot in and where Walman will go if able to return remains unknown.
Next: Oilers Deadline Buzz: Bigger Trade Coming After Murphy?
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