For those at Edmonton Oilers practice on Friday, they saw Leon Draisaitl making strides and looking like his usual self.

An extra day before starting Game 1 against the Anaheim Ducks on Monday gives the Oilers group extra time to get some crucial pieces back in their lineup. Draisaitl skated on a regular line with Vasily Podkolzin and Kasperi Kapanen in a white full-contact jersey at Friday’s practice.

He hasn’t played since March 15, and although the timelines haven’t changed, vague as they are, the German superstar is looking more and more ready to join the Oilers in a real game.

Jason Dickinson went on the ice Friday on his own. Knoblauch received an update on the veteran centre’s status, who left the game against the Sharks on April 8 after a blistering puck hit him low.

The expectation is for Dickinson to practice with the team on Sunday and go from there, as his status is dictated on the medical staff’s evaluations.

“It’s doctors allowing him to play, and he’s itching to get out there and he wants to be part of this,” said Knoblauch.

In 17 games with the Oilers, Dickinson has averaged 15:03 of ice-time, scoring one goal and four points.

Out to lead team stretch was beloved teammate Calvin Pickard, who was an emergency recall to be the Oilers’ third goalie on Friday. Since Connor Ingram has surged as the team’s starter, plus the acquisition of Tristan Jarry, there hasn’t been a spot for Pickard.

Knoblauch said the team was disappointed when he was sent down. He was struggling mightily, with a .871 save percentage and 3.68 goals against average, after being the team’s lifeline in last year’s post-season.

The veteran netminder played eight games with the Bakersfield Condors, and his numbers didn’t fare much better, posting a 4-3-1 record, .886 Sv% and a 3.26 GAA.

Tristan Jarry remains the team’s backup.

With the uncertainty of Draisaitl or Dickinson for the Game 1 lineup, Knoblauch admits there are question marks about which line combinations the Oilers will use for the series opener.

That’s why he focused on pairs with the lines. He kept the McDavid line together after a terrific game against the Canucks on Thursday, plus the Colton Dach-Josh Samanski-Trent Frederic combination which scored the first and final goal of the contest.

Dach, in particular, showed his range of how he can impact a game with a rare Gordie Howe hat-trick, the first for the Oilers since Evander Kane in Game 3 against the Los Angeles Kings in 2024. The bird of a feather similarities between Dach and Frederic (just like Darnell Nurse and Connor Murphy) seem a natural winger combination for a crash-and-bang third or fourth line.

But two forwards would come out of this lineup when both are healthy enough to play. The most likely candidate is Curtis Lazar. The other isn’t so clear, as Adam Henrique has the experience, but Josh Samanski has a better burst.

Sunday’s practice might provide more answers.

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