Oilers rule out Connor Brown for Game 5 against Stars

As the Edmonton Oilers prepare to play without Zach Hyman in Thursday’s Game 5 and beyond, they will also be without another one of their forwards in Connor Brown.

Brown was shaken up in Sunday’s matinee Game 3, taking a heavy hit along the boards from Dallas Stars defenceman Alex Petrovic, and was out of the lineup for Game 4 on Tuesday.

And on Wednesday, Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch confirmed Brown would miss Game 5 on Thursday in Dallas, as well.

“Connor Brown won’t be playing next game, but he’s doing well,” he said. “We hope that he can come in shortly after that.”

Knoblauch’s wording here offers some hope that Brown can return to the lineup for Game 6, should it be required.

Brown has been excellent for the Oilers in the playoffs this spring, scoring five goals and eight points in 13 games. He’s stepped up with some depth scoring, leading all forwards in penalty kill time on ice. Connor McDavid stepped up in his own way, playing 3:40 on the penalty kill in Game 4, the most he’s played there in a game since the 2022-23 regular season.

It’s given the Oilers’ penalty kill a new look in these playoffs, forcing opposing teams’ power play units to be extra cautious, as one quick break the other way, and McDavid can make them pay.

Viktor Arvidsson slid into the lineup for Game 4, playing on the Oilers’ fourth line, and with Hyman now out, more roster construction choices will need to be made. Either way they go, Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch said Wednesday, now is the time for players to step up.

“Missing Zach is going to be a huge hole, but we’re fortunate to have a lot of depth,” said Knoblauch. “Guys can step up and give us quality minutes.”

Game 5 of the series goes Thursday night in Dallas, with the game starting at 6:00 pm MT.

READ MORE

• Oilers’ Zach Hyman done for the season, requires surgery
• ‘Everyone loves that guy’: Oilers and fans react to Zach Hyman’s season-ending injury
• The Day After +15.0: Oilers have Stars on the brink after another strong defensive performance