Oilers Rally After Hyman Injury to Push Stars to Brink
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By Nemanja Petković
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Summary:
- Oilers defeated the Dallas Stars 4-1 to take a 3-1 series lead.
- The Oilers delivered 50 hits and had key contributions from Leon Draisaitl, Vasily Podkolzin, and Corey Perry.
- Zach Hyman left Game 4 with an apparent arm injury after a hit from Mason Marchment.
Zach Hyman has been a force all postseason, throwing his weight around with a physical edge that’s helped define the Edmonton Oilers’ playoff identity.
Heading into Game 4 of the Western Conference Final, Hyman had a league-leading 109 hits, a number that spoke volumes about his impact.
However, midway through the first period Tuesday night, it was Hyman who was on the wrong end of the contact.
Hyman’s Injury Cast a Shadow Over the Victory
After taking a glancing blow from Dallas Stars winger Mason Marchment as he skated out of Edmonton’s zone, Zach Hyman dropped his stick and immediately clutched his right arm.
He skated off and headed straight to the dressing room with the team’s medical staff.
With the 32-year-old out, Knoblauch juggled his lines. Trent Frederic and Corey Perry each got looks alongside Connor McDavid, while Leon Draisaitl carried more weight in the third, taking extra shifts to help seal the win.
The Oilers didn’t miss a beat, powering their way to a 4-1 win and pushing the Stars to the brink, taking a 3-1 series lead. Still, Hyman’s early departure cast a shadow over the victory.
“You’re not just going to make that up”, said Draisaitl, who had a goal and an assist. “But collectively, I think we have what it takes to make up for it.”
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins on Hyman: “He’s a Big Part of Our Team”
Hyman had been making his presence felt in every zone. He came into the night with five goals and six assists in the playoffs, along with 27 more hits than the next closest player, Florida’s Sam Bennett. He added two more hits before leaving the game.
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins said,
He’s a big part of our team, on and off the ice. You’ve seen his physicality. It’s important to our game, but other guys have already stepped up and tried to fill that gap.
The Oilers dished out 50 hits to Dallas’ 24 on Tuesday. Vasily Podkolzin led with eight, Kasperi Kapanen had seven, and a reconfigured line of Podkolzin, Mattias Janmark, and Viktor Arvidsson helped carry the load.
Head coach Kris Knoblauch didn’t have an injury update postgame, but praised the group’s response. Everyone stepped up,. Go through the lineup… I liked how everyone just played a little bit better.
“He is a hard-worker, he grinds, he does the little things right”, said goaltender Stuart Skinner. “Everyone loves that guy”, he added.
“That’s Zach Hyman hockey”, added Perry. “If he doesn’t have the puck, he’s going after it”.
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