Edmonton Oilers Zack Kassian out four-to-eight weeks, Duncan Keith out two-to-four weeks

The Edmonton Oilers suffered some serious blows Wednesday night.

During a press conference Thursday, Oilers GM Ken Holland announced forward Zack Kassian would be out four-to-eight weeks with a fractured jaw and defenceman Duncan Keith would miss two-to-four weeks. Keith was injured in the second period after crashing hard into the boards. Kassian was injured in the third period when he took a puck in the face and left the game.

Holland said Keith was in concussion protocol, and was dealing with a “banged up” upper body. In lieu, Holland said the team would be recalling defenceman Markus Niemelainen from the Bakersfield Condors.

Kassian’s offensive game has been relatively solid this year scoring five goals and 15 points in 35 games this year. His .4 points per game clip is up from his career average of .33 — the same average he’s held since joining the Oilers in 2015. He has remained a physical player for the Oilers laying 95 hits — the second-most of any Oilers player.

Keith, meanwhile, had been coming into his own with the Oilers. In 35 games this season, he’s scored one goal and 14 points. At 5×5 this year with Keith on the ice, the Oilers have controlled 52.07 percent of the shot attempts, 52.83 percent of the goals scored and 51.27 percent of the expected goal share.