Oilers' Projected Lineup: Skinner Scratched, Ekholm Doubtful

The Oilers may be shorthanded as they take on the Minnesota Wild tonight.

They may be without defenceman Mattias Ekholm for the first time all season. Ekholm was absent at the Oilers' morning skate today, and head coach Kris Knoblauch told reporters that he'll be a game-time decision for tonight's game.

Ekholm's absence would be a huge blow to the Oilers' blueline. He routinely leads all Oiler defencemen in ice time, logging big minutes in all situations next to Evan Bouchard.

That top pair has stayed together almost all season, so for the first time this year Brett Kulak seems poised to draw in next to Bouchard if Ekholm can't go. No Ekholm would also mean a huge uptick in minutes for Darnell Nurse, whether that's next to Kulak, Troy Stecher, or Ty Emberson.

Elsewhere in the lineup, Noah Philp joins Corey Perry and Kasperi Kapanen on the fourth line in his return to the NHL. Jeff Skinner's rocky tenure in Edmonton continues, as he's set to be a healthy scratch for the third consecutive game.

Calvin Pickard gets the start between the pipes for the second time in three games on the first night of a back-to-back. Pickard has won both his starts in 2025, beating Chicago and Seattle on the road despite posting save percentages under .900.

Pickard's best game of the season came against the Wild on December 12th, making 29 saves on 30 shots in a 7-1 blowout win.

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