Edmonton Oilers Hit With Major Injury Blow as Key Forward Lands on IR

Kasperi Kapanen was placed on injured reserve on Thursday after suffering from an undisclosed injury.

Kapenen should be expected to miss at least the Oilers' next three games, though it could certainly be much longer. Prior to missing Tuesday's clash with Ottawa, the 29-year-old winger was still looking for his first goal of the season.

He registered two assists, four shots, and 16 hits while averaging 12:17 of ice time so far in the current campaign.

Kapanen will be out of the lineup for several weeks, Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch told reporters recently, and this IR placement only confirms the worst.

Kapanen exited Sunday's game against the Detroit Red Wings, and it was unclear how he suffered the injury, but his final shift came at the start of the second period before he was eventually ruled out for the rest of the game.

He joined the Oilers halfway through last season after being waived by the St. Louis Blues and finished the season with six goals and eight assists in 67 games. On top of those metrics, he added three goals and three assists in 12 postseason games.

The Oilers are set to take on the Montreal Canadiens at home in Edmonton tonight at 9 PM MT, and unfortunately, they will do so without Kapanen.