Oilers place Zach Hyman on IR, activate Jason Dickinson

Hyman was injured partway through Monday’s game against the Detroit Red Wings when he found himself on the receiving end of a seemingly normal hit by defenceman Andres Englund. But Hyman appeared to hit his back and head against the boards, leaving him with a stiff neck, Oilers head coach Mike Babcock said Wednesday.

“We’re just being extra cautious,” he said, adding news of his injury was better than expected. “Originally, when you see it, you think maybe it’s a head thing, and then you find out it’s a neck thing, and that’s a real good thing for you.”

As a result, Hyman will miss the next seven days, at least, keeping him out against the Flames, Saturday and Sunday’s matinees against the New York Islanders and New York Rangers, and next Tuesday’s game against the New Jersey Devils.

Hyman has appeared in six games this season, scoring one goal.

Dickinson, meanwhile, returns to the lineup after his second stint of missed games already this year. He was out for the first three games of the season, working his way back from an ankle injury he suffered late last season. While he drew in for Edmonton’s three-game road trip to visit the Anaheim Ducks, San Jose Sharks and Los Angeles Kings, he was shaken up during an Oct. 15 morning skate.

“I’m feeling good,” Dickinson said Tuesday. “Although it wasn’t my ankle, it’s kind of connected all together in the lack of reps and being able to get everything to the point that I would normally like it to be at the end of the summer.

“So this time, take an abundance of caution, make sure I’m definitely ready to go so that I’m not constantly in and out of the lineup, because nobody wants that.”

Dickinson is set to centre the third line, flanked by Isaac Howard and Mathieu Joseph.