Although it's unclear if he will be ready for Game One, Draisaitl's impending presence in the first round of the playoffs is an encouraging sign for the Oilers. The 30-year-old German forward has not played in a month due to a lower-body injury. He scored 97 points (35G / 62A) in 65 games this season.
Hyman has missed Edmonton's previous five games due to an undisclosed injury but practiced in full on Wednesday and is likely to return for the season finale vs. Vancouver on Thursday. The 33-year-old has enjoyed another excellent season in an Oilers' jersey after starting 2025-26 late due to injury, with 31 goals, 51 points and 158 SOG in 57 games played.
Pyotr Kochetkov was originally set to start but is unable to play due to a roster technicality. Brandon Bussi will get the start while Thomas Sullivan will serve as the emergency back-up.
Shea has appeared in every game for Pittsburgh this season but two after resting for their previous game but will draw back into the lineup for Game 82 vs. St. Louis on Tuesday. The 29-year-old has been a key piece to Pittsburgh's back end and has taken a huge step forward in his third NHL season, posting career highs in nearly all statistical categories including games played (79), goals (6), points (34), plus/minus (+30) and PIMs (22).
Howard earned another call up to the Oilers over the weekend after he put up 22-goals and 47 points in 45 games played with Bakersfield (AHL) and will return to the lineup vs. Colorado on Monday. The 22-year-old forward is expected to play in Edmonton's top-six with Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Jack Roslovic and will hope to add to his five points in 28 games played this season.
Jones has been a solid force in Edmonton's bottom-six this season but will be out vs. Colorado on Monday due to a lower-body injury and is expected to miss the next three to four weeks. The 28-year-old has appeared in just 21 games this season, picking up three goals and five points despite only averaging 8:21 TOI per game played.
Hyman has missed the OIlers' previous four games with an undisclosed injury but returned to practice as a welcome sign on Monday as a full participant. The 33-year-old is still not expected to return vs. Colorado on Monday but is hopeful to be healthy for the Oilers' opening playoff series.
Edmonton welcomed back superstar forward Leon Draisaitl (lower-body) to practice on Monday although he is not expected to return vs. Colorado later in the evening. The 30-year-old German forward has been out since March 15th and currently sits just three points shy of the century mark, with 35-goals and 97 points in 65 games played before his injury. He is hopeful to return for Edmonton's opening round playoff series with today being an excellent sign in the right direction.
Joseph has been a healthy scratch for the last three games but he'll replace Jeff Malott (undisclosed) in the lineup on Saturday. Joseph has not registered a point in his first five games with the Kings.
Andersen allowed two goals on 25 shots in the Hurricanes' win in Chicago on Thursday. For the second time in a couple weeks, the Hurricanes will stick with Andersen for a second game in a row. Andersen has cleaned things up a bit recently and comes into Saturday at 7-3-0 with a 3.00 GAA and .862 SV% in his last 10 starts.
Mukhamadullin will slot in alongside Pavol Regenda and Ty Dellandrea as the Sharks opt to get some fresh legs into the lineup for the tail-end of their back-to-back. Adam Gaudette, Igor Chernyshov, and John Klingberg will all draw out of the lineup.
The Hurricanes are on the tail-end of a back-to-back, so Andersen will get the start when they travel to Chicago on Thursday. Andersen struggled in his last start, surrendering five goals on 30 shots in a 6-3 loss in Ottawa on Sunday. The 13-year-veteran has endured an up-and-down season between the pipes, posting a 14-14-5 record and an .870 SV% across 33 appearances. Luckily for Andersen, he does draw a favourable matchup on Thursday, as the Hurricanes enter action at -210 on the money line.
Samanski will slot in on Wednesday as the Oilers opt to get some fresh legs into the lineup for the tail-end of their back-to-back. Curtis Lazar will sit in his place.
John Klingberg will return from an injury on Wednesday, sending Mukhamadullin to the sidelines as a healthy scratch. The 24-year-old Mukhamadullin is averaging 16:51 time-on-ice and has 11 points (4G / 7A) in 45 games this season.
With Colton Dach returning from an injury, Samanski will be the odd man out of the lineup as a healthy scratch. The 24-year-old Samanski, in his first NHL season, has three points (1G / 2A) through 20 games with the Oilers.
Dach was acquired before the trade deadline, but only suited up in three games for Edmonton before suffering an undisclosed injury that has sidelined him for the past month. The 23-year-old second-year forward has 10 points (3G / 7A) in 56 games this season, primarily as a member of the Chicago Blackhawks.
