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Oilers injury update: Mattias Ekholm game-time decision against Sharks after missing Wednesday practice
Photo credit: Perry Nelson-Imagn Images
By Zach Laing
Jan 29, 2026, 14:00 ESTUpdated: Jan 29, 2026, 14:12 EST
Whether or not Edmonton Oilers defenceman Mattias Ekholm is in the lineup Thursday night against the San Jose Sharks wasn’t revealed when the team took to the ice in the morning.
Ekholm, fresh off his first career hat trick Monday night against the Anaheim Ducks, was absent from practice Wednesday, dealing with an undisclosed injury that left him questionable to play.
“He’s on the ice right now,” said Knoblauch Thursday morning. “We’ll find out (if he plays or not), but he’s day-to-day.”
The 35-year-old, now in his fourth season with the Oilers, has been stellar to start the season, racking up six goals and 26 points in 54 games played. It’s been a big bounce back for the blue liner after illness and injury hampered his 2024-25 season, keeping him out of the playoffs until the final game of the Western Conference Final.
Ekholm would play in seven games last spring in the playoffs, scoring a goal and six points, but it was very clear the defenceman was playing hurt, struggling with his skating, which is usually such a strength. Like much of the team did early this season, Ekholm had his struggles, but as the season has progressed, his game has settled down, and he’s back to being the reliable top-pairing defenceman the Oilers need him to be.
With him on the ice this season at five-on-five, the Oilers have outscored the opposition 54-46, while controlling 54.2 percent of the expected goal share. According to HockeyViz, he’s driven offence at a four percent rate above league average and defence at a nine percent rate above league average, contributing at the rate of a high-end first-pairing defenceman.
Before the season, the Oilers signed him to a three-year, $4 million extension keeping him in Edmonton through the 2028-29 season.
Alec Regula skated in Ekholm’s spot on the top pairing Wednesday as a placeholder, but if he was to miss Thursday’s game, the team would like re-jig the defensive pairings.
Puck drop between the Oilers and Sharks is set for 7 PM MT.
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Zach Laing is Oilersnation’s managing editor, and The Nation Network’s news director. He also makes up one-half of the Daily Faceoff DFS Hockey Report. He can be followed on X at @zjlaing, or reached by email at zach.laing@bettercollective.com.
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