Oilers Tease Draisaitl and Dickinson Returns for Game 1

The Edmonton Oilers are heading into Game 1 against the Anaheim Ducks with their final lineup still uncertain, but there are growing indications that both Leon Draisaitl and Jason Dickinson could be available.

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The Oilers held an optional pre-game skate on Monday, and while head coach Kris Knoblauch did not confirm any lineup changes, several clues suggest the team may be close to full strength for the playoff opener.

Draisaitl did not take part in the optional skate, which can sometimes be a sign a player is being held out for rest ahead of game action. Meanwhile, Curtis Lazar and Josh Samanski both skated hard at the end of the session, a potential indicator they may be the odd men out of the lineup. That would open the door for Dickinson to return.

If both Draisaitl and Dickinson are indeed ready to go, the Oilers would enter Game 1 with what is effectively their healthiest lineup of the season, aside from Max Jones’ status in the regular rotation.

Still, Knoblauch kept things tight-lipped when asked directly about both players.

“You’ll have to wait (until tonight) to find out,” the Oilers coach said.

As is often the case in the playoffs, certainty is in short supply until puck drop. But all signs point toward Edmonton potentially getting two key forwards back at exactly the right time. The puck drop is at 8 pm MT, with the Oilers the favorites to win the best-of-seven series. Still, Edmonton knows that the Ducks are a dangerous offensive team and there have already been some early surprises in the first couple nights of playoff action.

In other playoff action Monday, the Minnesota Wild try to dominate the Dallas Stars again, the Philadelphia Flyers take on the Pittsburgh Penguins in Game 2, and the Ottawa Senators try to even their series with the Carolina Hurricanes.

Next: Insider Calls Oilers’ Dickinson the “Big One” For Specific Reason