Kris Knoblauch Announces Injury Updates on Star Players Just Hours Before Tonight's Game vs the Sharks

The Edmonton Oilers received some good news prior to one of their final regular-season games.

Head coach Kris Knoblauch confirmed just hours before puck drop that defenceman Mattias Ekholm and goaltender Stuart Skinner will dress Friday night against the San Jose Sharks.

Skinner, however, will be the backup, so Calvin Pickard will make his seventh start in the past eight.

Knoblauch indicated Skinner, rehabbing an upper-body injury sustained March 26, will have the opportunity to start two of the four remaining games. The game 1 playoff starter is still undecided.

Ekholm also returns from a hidden injury that's kept him out since March 26. The 34-year-old has been sidelined for 14 games this season and has posted 33 points (9G, 24A) with a +11 rating.

Leon Draisaitl will remain out Friday but is expected to return prior to the close of the regular season. The Oilers' top scorer told the media he would like to have "a couple of games" under his belt before the playoffs.

He was out in March and back for a bit to get over 50 goals before he was hurt again last week. Draisaitl leads the NHL with 52 goals and is third in scoring (106) behind Nathan MacKinnon and Nikita Kucherov (116).

Knoblauch also indicated Trent Frederic, who made his Edmonton debut last Saturday, may not be available for Game 1 due to a reinjured ankle.

Meanwhile, Evander Kane, out for the entire season, continues to skate and could be back during Round 1, but no return date has been planned.

The Oilers (45-28-5) can qualify for the playoffs with a point against San Jose or the Flames losing to Minnesota.