Edmonton Oilers forward Isaac Howard is day to day with a lower body injury after a knee-on-knee collision with Emil Heineman of the New York Islanders on Oct. 31. Howard left the game 2:22 into the first period and did not return.
Howard is out for Edmonton’s game against the New York Rangers. Oilers coach Mike Babcock said the early signs are encouraging.
What The Oilers Said About Howard’s Status
Babcock addressed Howard’s condition after the hit from Heineman, which came during Edmonton’s 4-0 win over the Islanders on Saturday. “We don’t think, Howard, it’s as serious as it looked,” Babcock said. “We’re hoping for a real good kind of recovery day for him tomorrow, and if he doesn’t [feel better], then we’ll get on with the medical part of looking into it. But they think it’s favorable.”
Howard’s designation remains day to day with a lower body injury, per the official injury report. No timeline for his return has been given, and the Oilers have not said whether he will be available for games beyond the Rangers matchup.
Who Replaces Howard In The Lineup
The Oilers are carrying 12 healthy forwards on their NHL roster. Liam Foudy could be in line for a spot call-up, but forward prospects Quinn Finley, Cole Eiserman and Daniil Prokhorov are not believed to be ready for NHL action. The Oilers’ AHL affiliate in Hamilton is also dealing with significant injuries, which limits call-up options.
What’s Next For Edmonton
The Oilers visit the New York Rangers with Howard unavailable. Edmonton is coming off a 4-0 win over the Islanders on Oct. 31 in which Ryan Nugent-Hopkins scored twice. The team will provide an update on Howard’s status after his recovery day.
Any further word on Howard’s status will likely come after the “recovery day” Babcock referenced, with the team deciding then whether additional medical evaluation is needed.
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