Oilers' Ekholm out for first playoff round against Kings

Edmonton Oilers defenseman Mattias Ekholm will miss the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Los Angeles Kings due to an undisclosed injury. Ekholm had recently returned to play after a seven-game absence but re-aggravated his injury shortly after taking the ice. Coach Kris Knoblauch confirmed that the team is also resting superstar Connor McDavid, along with several other key players, for precautionary reasons. The absence of Ekholm, who has contributed significantly to the team's defense and penalty killing, is a setback for the Oilers as they navigate the playoffs. The team is experiencing a growing list of injuries and will need to rely on their remaining players to step up in the postseason. Leon Draisaitl is expected to return by the start of the playoffs, adding some hope for the Oilers moving forward.