Edmonton Oilers’ forward Jesse Puljujarvi was not on the ice this morning for the team skate. As per a few reports from insiders like TSN’s Ryan Rishaug and as confirmed by the head coach after practice, the Oilers held him off the ice for precautionary reasons.
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It doesn’t sound like whatever is ailing him is long-term but when Tippett was asked by a Montreal reporter if this was injury related or something else, Tippett didn’t provide other details and said only that the training staff advised the team to hold Puljujarvi out for the morning.
The Oilers are going to monitor Puljujarvi throughout the day, see how things go in the afternoon, and he’s not been officially ruled out for tonight’s game.
If he can’t go, James Neal will take his spot and Neal was on the top line at today’s practice alongside Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Connor McDavid. Neal did not dress during Tuesday’s game against the Ottawa Senators.
Big Potential Loss For Oilers
While Puljujarvi isn’t one of the Oilers top scorers this season, his game has really been coming on of late and he’s been starting to produce. For the longest time, he was the Oilers leading shot producer with no goals, but he’s now got three markers and two assists on the season in 15 games.
He’s been a driver and the chemistry he’s been building with McDavid has been noticeable. More importantly, he looks comfortable. That’s not something anyone would have said during his first stint with the team.
The hope is that this is nothing more than a few bumps and bruises and that he’s not out with anything that would be considered lengthy.
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