Troy Stecher hasn’t been seen since playing in Winnipeg last Sunday. He hasn’t skated and wasn’t on the ice in San Jose yesterday as the Oilers prepared for Game 1 of their opening-round series vs. Los Angeles. With Mattias Ekholm out for the series and now Stecher, it looks like Josh Brown could play his fourth NHL playoff game Monday night.

Brown has had a challenging season. He signed a three-year deal on July 1 and expected to be with the Oilers. His family got a home in Edmonton, but he didn’t make the team out of training camp and was sent to Bakersfield. His family remained in Edmonton. He was recalled in late November and played three games, the last one in Edmonton, and he was able to spend some time with his family before going back to Bakersfield. He was recalled again in January for five games, and that allowed him some more family time.

His wife had a baby in March, and he took some time away from the Condors to be with her and their newborn. The season hasn’t gone as he and his family expected. The human side of sports can be overlooked sometimes. And I get it. Fans focus more on what happens on the ice, as they should, but players are still human and being away from your family isn’t ideal. I don’t know any father who would rather spend time away from his children and wife than with them. Okay, maybe the odd night, we’d like some alone time, but not months at a time.

When Brown signed with the Oilers, he didn’t expect to spend the majority of the season in the AHL, but that’s what happened. But now, at the most important time of the season, Brown might be called upon to help the Oilers defeat the LA Kings.

Brown won’t play a leading role, he averaged 12:36/game in the regular season. In the playoffs, I could see him playing between 9-11 minutes a game. He will get some penalty kill time and 5×5. Brown’s strengths are being physical, blocking shots and defending. He has 11 goals and 35 points in 300 regular-season games. He doesn’t transport the puck or make deft passes. That isn’t his game.

Admittedly, I like the underdog story. It is great seeing a player you don’t expect much from score a key goal or make a great play.

Brown isn’t as good as Ekholm. He doesn’t skate or move the puck like Stecher. He just has to play his game, keep it simple and avoid turnovers.

Brown just needs to give the Oilers 9-11 solid minutes. If you don’t notice him, then he’s done his job. Break up the cycle, clear the front of the net, punish the Kings’ forwards and move the puck to his partner. It isn’t glamorous or flashy, but if he can do that and not get scored on, then he’s done his job.

Brown’s game is suited for the playoffs because the games are more physical. The increased physicality could benefit him. He’s 6’5″ and 220 pounds. He won’t be intimidated, and he likely can be more physical and get away with it in the playoffs. The Kings’ fourth line is a lot bigger than it has been in previous years. Samuel Helenius is 6’6″ and 210 pounds. Tanner Jeannot is 6’2″ and 220 pounds, while Jeff Malott is 6’5″ and 210. Malott will play if Jeannot can’t, but either way, the Kings’ fourth line is huge, and Brown’s size could help him in battles against them.

I understand the concern about Brown playing instead of Ekholm or Stecher. However, I see the reason for playing ahead of John Klingberg. Klingberg hasn’t been able to stay healthy, and when he played, he didn’t move very well. The Oilers could play Cam Dineen with Ty Emberson, and they might, depending on how Game 1 goes, but Brown has more experience and size. He can also kill penalties.

Realistically, Brown shouldn’t be a major factor in the series. He will play limited minutes, but every shift in the playoffs is magnified. A great play or a big mistake can significantly impact the outcome. His shifts will matter, and while it is a cliché, he just needs to play his game and stay within himself. Don’t try a high-risk pass. Just get it out of the zone, even if it is “off-the-boards-and-out.”

When Brown signed, he believed he was signing with a Cup contender and wanted to play. The regular season didn’t unfold how he wanted, but now, due to injury, he’ll be given an opportunity to contribute. I’m fascinated to see how he does.

— I feel for Stecher. He didn’t play last year in the playoffs, as he had a cyst removed from his ankle. He played 66 games this season, and down the stretch, he had wrestled the third pair, right defence slot, away from Emberson. Both were expected to play with the injury to Ekholm, but Stecher got banged up in game No. 80 in Winnipeg. For his sake, I hope it is short-term. Stecher re-signed in Edmonton this summer for just above the league minimum, simply because he wanted to be on a winner. He just wanted to be around that atmosphere and hopefully contribute to the team’s success. He did that in the regular season, and hopefully, he gets a chance to do it in the playoffs. Stecher has played 566 games on sheer heart and determination. Not many undersized defenders, who aren’t elite offensively, stick around in the NHL as long as he has. His competitive nature has allowed him to play this long.

— Evander Kane wasn’t among the top four lines at practice yesterday. Trent Frederic wasn’t either. We might not see either play in Game 1. The Oilers could use both of them due to their unique combination of skill, physicality and toughness. Game 1 isn’t until Monday, so the lineup might change over the next 50+ hours, but yesterday looked like Kane and Frederic might not play in the series opener.

— Connor McDavid has averaged 2.00 points/game vs. the Kings in the past three series. He scored 8-28-36. McDavid looked like his usual turbo-speed self since returning from injury and he produced 10 points in four games.  Leon Draisaitl has scored 17 goals and 30 points in 18 playoff games vs. the Kings.

When someone asks why I think Edmonton wins, the above numbers are the answer. What can LA do differently to slow them down? The Kings’ blueline isn’t any quicker. Phil Danault and Anze Kopitar are older, while McDavid and Draisaitl are still in their prime. The only hope LA has is that Quinton Byfield is ready to emerge and challenge one of them.

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