Oilers lose Hyman to injury in loss to Detroit last night

UPDATE: Oilers insider Jason Gregor is reporting that Hyman will be out of the team's lineup for at least a week.

The Edmonton Oilers are no strangers to adversity this season, but Monday night's game against the Detroit Red Wings delivered yet another gut punch to a team already struggling to stay healthy. Two days after head coach Mike Babcock called out his squad for a poor showing against the Toronto Maple Leafs, Edmonton found itself dealing with another loss on the ice and, more importantly, another body heading to the trainer's room.

The game itself had its bright spots. Vasily Podkolzin opened the scoring with a quirky goal in the first period, and depth players like Isaac Howard and Colton Dach chipped in with much-needed contributions later on. But none of that was enough, as the Red Wings clawed back and ultimately took the game 4-3 in the shootout. The real story, though, was what happened midway through the second period.

Hyman Goes Down After Collision With Englund

Veteran forward Zach Hyman was driven into the boards by Detroit defenseman Andreas Englund on what initially appeared to be a routine play near the Red Wings' blue line. On closer inspection, however, it became clear that Hyman's head struck the glass hard on the impact. The 34-year-old reached for his head as he slowly fell backward onto the ice, clearly dazed from the collision.

Hyman had to be helped off the ice by training staff and did not return to the game. He had logged 8:25 of ice time and registered two shots on goal before exiting. Given the nature of the injury, it's widely believed he was removed under concussion protocol, though Babcock offered no specific diagnosis after the game.

"I didn't like to see Hym's go. We're hoping to get guys back, not losing more guys," Babcock said postgame. "Any time you get injured twice, it's not a good sign, obviously. He's a very important piece for us, so that wasn't fun to watch."

This marks the second time Hyman has been sidelined this season. He missed the first six games of the campaign after sustaining an upper-body injury during the preseason finale and had only managed to play five games since returning, recording just one goal in that stretch. A second stint on injured reserve now looks like a real possibility.

A Mounting Injury List and What Comes Next

Hyman's absence only compounds what has become a serious depth problem for the Oilers. The team is already without forwards Matt Savoie, Jason Dickinson, and Mattias Janmark, defensemen Mattias Ekholm and Alec Regula, and goaltender Frederik Andersen. That's a significant chunk of the roster, and it's starting to show in the team's play.

There is some light at the end of the tunnel, at least. Dickinson is reportedly expected to return when the Oilers host the Calgary Flames on Wednesday, and Ekholm could rejoin the lineup as early as this weekend when the team heads out on an eastern road trip. But losing Hyman again, particularly to a head injury, puts a damper on any optimism about getting healthier.

Colton Dach slotted into Hyman's spot on the second line alongside Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Kasperi Kapanen after the injury and made the most of it, scoring what was briefly a go-ahead goal in the third period. Babcock praised Dach's physical play, noting that moving him to the wing has been a positive development. Isaac Howard also earned kudos from the coach after scoring on the power play, a welcome sign after being a healthy scratch just two days earlier.

Despite the mounting injuries, the Oilers still find themselves in a strong position in the standings, sitting atop the Pacific Division with an 8-2-2 record and 18 points. That cushion won't last forever, though. Defenceman Ryan Shea acknowledged that the team's struggles, particularly in the second period where they were outshot 17-7 on Monday, are starting to chip away at the group's confidence. Edmonton will need its depth players to continue stepping up and, more than anything, will need to start getting bodies back rather than losing them.