Dach will take a seat on Friday as the Blackhawks opt to get some fresh legs into the lineup for the tail-end of their back-to-back. Dach has three goals and six assists in 50 games this season.
Ekholm is coming off a sensation three-goal performance in 19:58 time-on-ice in Monday's 7-4 win over the Anaheim Ducks, but is battling an undisclosed injury, making his status for Thursday uncertain. Luckily, it appears he will be available for tonight's game against the Sharks. The 35-year-old defenseman has 26 points (6G / 20A) in 54 games this season.
Ingram did not fare well in his previous outing, allowing three goals on 12 shots (.750 SV%) before being replaced by Tristan Jarry in the second period in an eventual 6-5 overtime win over the Washington Capitals. That said, the 28-year-old Ingram has played well in his tenure with the Oilers, including an impressive 1.78 GAA and .930 SV% in his last six games (4-1-1). The Oilers enter the action on Thursday as -183 home favourites against a San Jose Sharks team that is 3-1-0 in their last four games.
Landon Slaggert will be a healthy scratch on Thursday against the Pittsburgh Penguins, allowing Dach to re-enter the lineup. The 23-year-old Dach has not played in a full week. He has nine points (3G / 6A) in 49 games this season.
Ekholm is coming off a sensation three-goal performance in 19:58 time-on-ice in Monday's 7-4 win over the Anaheim Ducks, but is battling an undisclosed injury, making his status for Thursday uncertain. The 35-year-old defenseman has 26 points (6G / 20A) in 54 games this season.
Kapanen returned from a nearly three-month absence due to an injury at the beginning of January, and quickly returned to the sidelines, but will re-enter the lineup after an eight-day absence. The 29-year-old Kapanen has nine points (3G / 6A) in 14 games this season.
Jarry was serviceable in relief of Connor Ingram in Saturday's 6-5 overtime win over the Washington Capitals, saving 13 of 15 shots (.867 SV%). That said, the 30-year-old Jarry has yet to truly impress since joining the Oilers, posting a 3.12 GAA and .880 SV% in eight games (5-2-1), stats that are actually poorer than the 2.83 GAA and .891 SV% that Stuart Skinner sported in 23 games (11-8-4) as he underwent scrutiny and was eventually traded away. Still, the Oilers enter Monday's contest as sizable -253 home favorites against an Anaheim Ducks team on a seven-game winning streak.
Samanski is an undrafted German forward that has yet to play an NHL game. The 23-year-old is in his first professional season in North America, and has 28 points (7G / 21A) in 39 games with the Bakersfield Condors (AHL). Isaac Howard has been assigned to Bakersfield in a corresponding move.
Howard was acquired by the Oilers in the offseason, with the team hoping he could add an offensive spark in his rookie season. That said, after just five points (2G / 3A) in 28 games, he will head to the AHL for some additional playing time. Josh Samanski has been recalled from Bakersfield (AHL) in a corresponding move.
Samanski is an undrafted German forward that has yet to play an NHL game. The 23-year-old is in his first professional season in North America, and has 28 points (7G / 21A) in 39 games with the Bakersfield Condors (AHL). Isaac Howard has been assigned to Bakersfield in a corresponding move.
Dickinson did not play in Chicago's previous game because of an illness, but he will re-enter the lineup on Friday against the Tampa Bay Lightning. The 30-year-old Dickinson has 10 points (6G / 4A) in 36 games this season.
With Frank Nazar returning from injury on Friday, Colton Dach finds himself the odd man out of Chicago's lineup vs. Tampa Bay. The 23-year-old has hit everything that moves this season, ranking seventh in the NHL with 172 hits and also has picked up career highs in goals (3), points (9) and PIMs (45) across 49 games played.
Regula will be the odd-man out on the Oilers' blue-line on Thursday. His absence makes room for the return of Leon Draisaitl (personal), as the Oilers opt to return to a more traditional lineup structure with 12 forwards and only six defencemen.
Draisaitl is a welcomed but surprise addition to the Oilers lineup on Thursday. The Oilers originally stated that he was likely to rejoin the team later this week, though there was no specific mention of a return on Thursday prior to the start of warmups. The 30-year-old Draisaitl has been on a tear for the past few weeks, with 36 points (10G / 26A) in his last 21 games.
Dickinson was a surprise scratch on Thursday, with the Blackhawks not announcing his absence prior to warmups. His spot in the lineup will be filled by the return of Frank Nazar (upper-body).
After outscoring their opposition 11-0 during a two-game winning streak, the Oilers had trouble finding the net on Tuesday, failing to generate goal support for Jarry in a 2-1 loss to the New Jersey Devils. The 30-year-old Jarry has played well since joining the Oilers, posting a 2.48 GAA and .904 SV% in six games (4-1-1). The Oilers enter Thursday's contest as -162 home favorites against Jarry's former team, the Pittsburgh Penguins, who they defeated 6-4 a month ago.
Kapanen returned from a nearly three-month absence due to an injury at the beginning of January, and will return to the sidelines after suffering an injury in the first period of Sunday's game against the St. Louis Blues. Oilers' Head Coach Kris Knoblauch said Kapanen will miss some time but insisted the injury is not long-term like his previous one. The 29-year-old Kapanen has nine points (3G / 6A) in 14 games this season.
Draisaitl has not played in the previous two games due to a family matter in Germany, but he is expected to return to the lineup this week. The Oilers have fared well in two games with Draisaitl (2-0-0), outscoring their opposition 11-0, but they will be eager to welcome back the services of their star forward. The 30-year-old Draisaitl has been on a tear for the past few weeks, with 36 points (10G / 26A) in his last 21 games.
The Oilers have consecutive shutout wins, one from Tristan Jarry and one from Connor Ingram, and they will look to extend their shutout streak on Tuesday with Jarry returning to the crease. The 30-year-old Jarry saved all 31 shots he faced in his 6-0 shutout win over the Vancouver Canucks, improving to 4-0-1, with a 2.58 GAA and .907 SV% through five games with the Oilers. The Oilers enter Tuesday's contest as -178 home favorites against the New Jersey Devils, who defeated the Calgary Flames 2-1 in overtime last night.
