Edmonton Oilers’ defenseman Adam Larsson is expected to return to the lineup Monday night against the San Jose Sharks, according to head coach Todd McLellan.
"All plans this morning were that he was in, so unless something changes after the morning skate then he won't be, but we have him scheduled to play," McLellan said following morning skate.
Coach McLellan discusses @AdamLarsson3's impending return, @27MilanLucic's valuable intangibles & more ahead of tonight's matchup vs. San Jose. pic.twitter.com/BChQVKgOSu
— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) December 18, 2017
Larsson, who has been out with an upper-body injury since the team’s 3-2 home win against the Arizona Coyotes Nov. 28, will be a welcome return to the NHL’s sixth-worst defense in terms of goals against. Edmonton has allowed 106 goals in 33 games so far this season and conceded 3.25 goals per game over Larsson’s eight-game absence.
The 25-year-old defenseman has three goals and one assist in 25 games so far this season, but was a key cog in Edmonton’s run to the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs last year. He scored four goals and tallied 15 assists while averaging over 20 minutes per-game in his first season with the Oilers after the team acquired him from the New Jersey Devils for forward Taylor Hall in the offseason. The Oilers had been leaning on Larsson even more this season, with his average usage of 22:30 per-game second on the team behind Oscar Klefbom.
“I didn’t think it was going to be this long, just one or two days almost, but I had a setback and it took a little longer,” Larsson said on Monday. “I feel good right and now and I’m very excited to get back in there.”
On Saturday, Oilers goalie Cam Talbot returned from an injury that kept him out six games, and helped the Oilers defeat the Minnesota Wild. Larsson has missed the past eight games.
Edmonton (14-17-2), which currently sits in 14th place in the Western Conference, sits eight points behind the Sharks for third place in the Pacific Division, though San Jose two fewer games.