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The Edmonton Oilers<\/a> could get a major boost from the return of injured blue liner Mattias Ekholm for Game 4 of the team\u2019s Western Conference final series against the Dallas Stars on Tuesday.<\/p>\n Ekholm has yet to play this postseason as he remains rehabbing an injury sustained toward the end of the regular season. He missed a handful of games down the stretch and then the first two series against the LA Kings and the Vegas Golden Knights.<\/p>\n According to Ekholm<\/a>, he could be back in the lineup soon. Ekholm addressed the media following the team\u2019s practice on Monday, stating:<\/p>\n \u201cI feel really good. Whether I think it’s imminent, I think it’s going to be soon at least, and whether it’s tomorrow or the next game, or whatever it is, I’m happy with my body.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n <\/p>\n <\/template><\/p>\n While Ekhom didn\u2019t narrow the timeline down, his comments underscore that Ekholm could suit up for the Oilers before the end of their current series. The team still has two more games unless the Stars force the series to six games with a win on Tuesday night.<\/p>\n The Edmonton blue liner added:<\/p>\n \u201cI’m happy the way I feel, and really excited about where the team’s at and how they’re playing.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Check out Ekholm\u2019s comments here:<\/p>\n The Oilers have missed Ekholm on their blue line, especially Evan Bouchard, Ekholm\u2019s defense partner. However, considering how the club has played since Game 3 of their opening-round series, Ekholm\u2019s return would only solidify an already strong club.<\/p>\n A piece published in The Athletic on Monday looked at the \u201cproblem\u201d the Oilers would face upon Mattias Ekhom\u2019s<\/a> return to the lineup. Namely, that problem would be which of the current blue line group would come out of the lineup to accommodate Ekholm.<\/p>\n As Edmonton coach Kris Knoblauch noted, per The Athletic:<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ll do what\u2019s best for our team and what\u2019s best for him.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n That\u2019s a politically correct soundbite indicating that the Oilers will find a way to fit everyone into the lineup, even at the expense of a solid, if unspectacular, defenseman.<\/p>\n But as The Athletic noted, Ekholm\u2019s superb two-way game is too good to leave sitting in the press box if he\u2019s healthy enough to play. Ekholm\u2019s status is \u201cundecided\u201d at the moment, meaning that he could be a game-time decision ahead of Game 4 against the Stars at Rogers Place on Tuesday night.<\/p>\nEkholm\u2019s return could create a good problem for Oilers<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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