Devastating situation hits the Edmonton Oilers
Photo credit: NHL
Zach Hyman injury status is uncertain following a hit he took in the 1st period of game 4 of the Western Conference Finals, against the Dallas Stars. Now, new reports indicate that Hyman will miss the rest of the post season and will require immediate surgery.
Hyman is no stranger to aggressive play, as he leads all NHL players with 109 playoff hits. Yet, it was while on the receiving end of a hit that he was injured.
The hit came from Marchment midway through the 1st period of game four, in which the Oilers led 4-1. Edmonton now leads the series against the Dallas Stars 3-1.
Zach Hyman out for the playoffs and needs surgery
Immediately following the D-zone hit, Hyman dropped his stick and made for the bench, then trekked down the tunnel to the Oilers' locker room to be examined by medical staff.
Though he didn't have an update on the injury, Oilers' head coach Kris Knoblauch did say the following: "Everyone stepped up. Go through the lineup...I liked how everyone just played a little bit better."
Knoblauch made up for Hyman's minutes with the Oilers' depth, playing Trent Frederic and Corey Perry on McDavid's wing through two periods.
"You're just not going to make that up," Draisaitl, who contributed a goal and assist, said of Hyman's absence. " But collectively, I think we have what it takes to make up for it."
Hyman started game 4 with 29 more playoff hits than Florida's Sam Bennett, number 2 on the list, and had scored 5 goals and 6 assists.
A 32 year-old from Toronto, Zach Hyman scored 54 goals last season, and 16 more in the playoffs as past of the Oilers' run to the finals, where they lost to the Panthers in seven games.
"It's a big loss," Oilers forward Nugent-Hopkins said. "He's a big part of our team, on and off the ice."
Oilers have had to deal with injuries in this year's playoffs, to Mattias Ekholm on D, and Connor Brown up front.
"He's a huge piece, a big piece," Oilers goalie Stuart Skinner said of Hyman. "He's an amazing human being. Everyone loves him," to which Nugent-Hopkins added, "Part of it felt like we were doing it for Zach."
Unfortunately, Hyman is now out for the rest of the playoffs. A massive blow for the Oilers, to say the least.
| POLL | ||
MAI 28 | 24 ANSWERS Devastating situation hits the Edmonton Oilers Do you think Oilers can win series against Dallas without Zach Hyman's production? | ||
| Yes | 19 | 79.2 % |
| No | 5 | 20.8 % |
| List of polls | ||
