Oilers’ replacement for Zach Hyman emerges ahead of Game 5
After a terrible update on Hyman earlier today, the Oilers have to find a way to fill the void… Details below:
Earlier on Wednesday, Edmonton Oilers head coach head coach Kris Knoblauch confirmed that the team will be without forward Zach Hyman for the remainder of the playoffs after he underwent surgery. Hyman left Tuesday’s game and didn’t return after receiving a hit from Dallas Stars’ Mason Marchment midway through the first period. As soon as he got hit, Hyman dropped his stick and favored his right arm. He immediately left the ice and headed to the Oilers’ dressing room 9:17 into the game. After 3 minutes, 11 seconds, of action, Game 4 was over for him. And now so is his season…
Now Mark Spector of Sportsnet tackled the very hard question of determining who will be able to fill the void during Hyman’s absence, especially since the Oilers are dealing with more injuries up front with Connor Brown also sidelined.
According to Spector, there is one decision that has been made while other options have emerged for the Oilers ahead of Game 5 in Dallas on Thursday night. He wrote:
“Hyman’s departure likely cements right-winger Viktor Arvidsson in the lineup for the rest of this Oilers’ run, while one of Jeff Skinner, Max Jones, or, quite possibly, the right-shot penalty killer Derek Ryan could draw in until depth right-winger Connor Brown returns from what is believed to be a concussion.”
But will it be enough? Hyman has been a tremendous player for Edmonton since the start of the postseason, leading the NHL with 111 hits in 15 games this postseason and ranks fifth in scoring on Edmonton with 11 points (five goals, six assists). He scored 54 goals last season and 16 during the Oilers’ run to Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final.
No matter who comes in for him, I don’t think Hyman cane fully be replaced…
It was would a good story for Jeff Skinner, who would get to play another playoff game in his career. In fifteen long years, Skinner has only taking part in one single playoff game, in the first round against the Los Angeles Kings, seeing that he never got the chance when he played for the Carolina Hurricanes and then the Buffalo Sabres. He could get another shot now…
If the Oilers can finish off Dallas in Game 5 Thursday, word is they could have a week off prior to Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final in Edmonton as we await the winner of the Eastern conference Final between the Panthers and Hurricanes. Florida can win the series in 5 later tonight.
