With Colton Dach’s return to the lineup tonight, he has officially been activated off injured reserve. Josh Samanski was stilled listed as an emergency recall from the Bakersfield Condors, and the Oilers are loaning him back to their AHL club for the time being.
No other moves were required to get Zach Hyman and Jake Walman back into the lineup. That means three players who were unavailable in Thursday’s first matchup against Utah will draw in tonight for the rematch.
The @EdmontonOilers morning skate:
Podkolzin-McDavid-Draisaitl
Kapanen-Dach-Hyman
Formenton-Michaels-Joseph
Hallander-Frederic-Howard
Jones-Samanski
Ekholm-Bouchard
Shea-Murphy
Walman-Emberson
Mukhamadullin
Jarry
Levi
The Oilers could’ve considered putting Jason Dickinson retroactively on IR, but not much is known about his status going forward. There is also belief that Ryan Nugent-Hopkins can make his season debut late next week.
Samanski hasn’t seemed to pick up where he left off last season. He initially did not crack the opening night roster, but immediate injuries to the Oilers forward group prompted a recall after just one game. Samanski has suited up six games and chipped in one assist, but has not been getting much ice time. He is averaging 7:44 per game, a few minutes below his totals from a season ago at 10:34.
Samanski also had the unfortunate double-minor for high-sticking against the Mammoth on Thursday that gave them an early lead they’d never look back from.
Dach will play centre for the fourth time this season after two weeks between games. His last appearance against the Seattle Kraken, Dach played 12:33 with two penalty minutes and one shot on goal. On the year, Dach is pointless, sitting minus-4, while averaging 13:23 a night. However, his faceoff percentage has been strong, winning 54.8 per cent of the time at the dot.
Jake Walman also returns after being on the shelf for the last three games. Tristan Jarry will start.
Michael Menzies is an Oilersnation columnist and co-host of Pregaming and Postgaming. He’s also been the play-by-play voice of the Bonnyville Pontiacs in the AJHL since 2019. With seven years of news experience as the Editor-at-Large of Lakeland Connect in Bonnyville, Menzies collects vinyl, books, and stomach issues. Follow him on X at Menzies_4.PRESENTED BY DFO EDMONTON GEAR
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