Oilers’ Connor Brown a game-time decision for Game 1 against Stars

Edmonton Oilers forward Connor Brown will be a game-time decision for Game 1 of the Western Conference Final versus the Dallas Stars.

Brown did not participate in morning practice, where Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch said that Brown would be a game-time decision.

The 31-year-old has racked up four goals and three assists for seven points in 11 Stanley Cup Playoff contests while averaging 16-17 minutes of ice time per game. Whether Brown is burying secondary chances, killing penalties, or grinding on the forecheck, Brown has been a spark plug through the first 11 games for Edmonton.

This past season, Brown was a depth scorer who totalled 13 goals and 30 points in 82 games following a one-year, $1 million contract extension last summer.

In 601 career NHL appearances, Brown has scored 107 goals and 151 assists for 2588 points, including 18 points in 50 playoff games. The 30-year-old has hit the 35-point mark four times in his career, scoring 20 or more goals twice.

If Brown can’t play tonight, Viktor Arvidsson will replace him as he did at practice Wednesday morning. Arvidsson has tallied one goal and three assists in nine playoff games with Edmonton so far and was a healthy scratch during the final two games versus the Vegas Golden Knights.

On the bright side, Mattias Ekholm was once again practicing with the main group, joining the group on the road as he nears his return to the lineup. Limited to 65 appearances this season, the 34-year-old Swedish-born rearguard has tallied nine goals and 24 assists for 33 points, coupled with 30 penalty minutes and a plus-11 rating while averaging more than 22 minutes of ice time per night, third most on the Oilers.