The Edmonton Oilers will face Game 5 against the Dallas Stars on Thursday without forward Connor Brown, who remains sidelined due to an upper-body injury sustained in Game 3. Head coach Kris Knoblauch confirmed Brown’s absence ahead of the team’s departure to Dallas while offering some optimism about his recovery.
Brown’s injury occurred after receiving a heavy hit from Dallas defenseman Alexander Petrovic late in the second period of Game 3, forcing him out for the remainder of that match. Viktor Arvidsson has since taken Brown’s place in the lineup as the Oilers prepare to continue their Western Conference Finals series.
“Brown won’t be playing next game, but he’s doing well, and we hope that he can come in shortly after that,” Knoblauch told the media (Timestamp: 2:06).
Throughout the playoffs, Brown has been an important offensive contributor for Edmonton, tallying five goals and three assists in 14 games—his best postseason performance. Over the regular season, he registered 13 goals and 17 assists across 82 contests, proving his value to the team’s forward group.
In addition to Brown’s injury, the Oilers are also keeping a close eye on Zach Hyman, who left Game 4 early after sustaining a shoulder injury. Knoblauch has indicated that Hyman’s season is likely over, as he is scheduled for surgery with an extended recovery time ahead.
“Zach’s season is most likely done,” Knoblauch said (Timestamp: 0:03). “He’s getting surgery today, and it’ll be a while. So, we’re not expecting him back for the playoffs.”
Hyman’s absence is particularly concerning given his critical scoring role in recent seasons. This postseason, he collected five goals and six assists in 15 games, making him one of the team’s top offensive weapons. The Oilers will need others to step up to fill the void as they push to close out the series.
Coach Knoblauch Confident in Team’s Strength Despite Injuries
Even with these injury setbacks, the Oilers dominated Game 4, defeating the Dallas Stars 4-1 and taking a commanding 3-1 lead in the series. Key players Leon Draisaitl and Corey Perry each contributed a goal and an assist, while Connor McDavid and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins recorded two assists apiece. Goaltender Stuart Skinner also delivered a strong performance with 28 saves.
Dallas managed just one goal in Game 4 and has been significantly outscored 13-2 over the last three games. When reflecting on his team’s resilience and depth, Coach Knoblauch expressed confidence that this year’s squad matches or surpasses the strength of last year’s.
“I would say last year we were very fortunate to have the depth that we had,” Knoblauch said (Timestamp: 4:21). “This year, we’re equal to or stronger than that. … Probably a little step above that.”
With the chance to clinch the series on Thursday night, the Oilers will look to overcome their injury challenges and maintain their momentum against a resilient Dallas Stars squad.