Edmonton Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch revealed that either Zach Hyman or Mattias Ekholm will likely not be ready to start game 1 of the NHL playoffs. Edmonton Oilers defenseman Mattias Ekholm and forward Zach Hyman both <a href='https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/oilers-mattias-ekholm-zach-hyman-exit-vs-sharks-with-apparent-injuries/' class='lien_marqueur' target='_blank' rel='noopener'>departed Friday's 4-2 victory over the San Jose Sharks</a> in the first period and did not return. The team offered no explanation of the nature of their early departures. Head coach Kris Knoblauch made a comment after the game that one of the two players would be out for the start of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, but did not specify which one. <div align='center' class='pl20 pr20'><blockquote class='twitter-tweet' data-lang='en'><a href='https://twitter.com/tsnryanrishaug/status/1910913616133472372'><div style='border:1px solid #CCCCCC;border-radius:10px;padding:20px;width:300px;'>Loading from Twitter ...</div></a></blockquote></div> <img src='https://i.marqueur.com/habsetlnh/i/photo/548677.webp' width='100%' border='0' alt='image' loading='lazy' defer /> Ekholm, <a href='https://www.hockeylatest.com/nhl-team/edmonton-oilers/kris-knoblauch-announces-injury-updates-on-star-players-just-hours-before-tonight-game-vs-the-sharks' class='lien_marqueur' target='_blank' rel='noopener'>in the lineup for the first time since March 26</a> due to being absent with an unspecified illness, skated just two shifts. <h3>Ekholm didn't even play two minutes before leaving with an injury</h3> The 34-year-old slipped twice in the early part of the first period and had his skates checked before skating briefly during a break and then heading off to the dressing room. He skated just 1:30 of ice time. Prior to Friday, <a href='https://www.nhl.com/oilers/player/mattias-ekholm-8475218' class='lien_marqueur' target='_blank' rel='noopener'>Ekholm</a> had missed seven consecutive and 13 of the last 17. He has scored nine goals and 24 assists for 33 points in 64 games so far this season, his third with Edmonton. Hyman played 7:14 of ice time before he was taken out of the game. He registered two shots on net. The 32-year-old winger has 27 goals and 14 assists for 41 points in 72 games this season, his fourth year with the Oilers. The Oilers advanced to the playoffs for the sixth straight year with Friday's win. They have three games left in the regular season.