Oilers defenceman Troy Stecher might draw short straw if Mattias Ekholm returns but that's fine with him

Troy Stecher says Mattias Ekholm is one of the NHL ’s best defencemen.

Ekholm hasn’t played any of the Oilers ’ playoff games, and none since April 11 against the San Jose Sharks here.

If Ekholm returns Tuesday , it will be head coach Kris Knoblauch's call, along with Paul Coffey , who handles the defence.

Connor Brown won’t be playing Game 4 , maybe out with concussion protocol after the Alex Petrovic caught-in-the-train-tracks hit in the second period.

Connor Brown , already playing on a bad foot after blocking a shot in the Vegas series, is out, which hurts their PK unit.

Goalie Calvin Pickard was stopping shots with his teammates Monday at a nearly full skate, but he's not supplanting Stu Skinner anytime soon.

Dallas Stars centre Roope Hintz didn't play Game 3 after being slashed on the foot in Game 2 in Dallas .

Coach Pete DeBoer says he has his fingers crossed that his No. 1 centre can return.

Since Game 4 against Vegas, the Oilers have only given up 10 high danger chances off the rush, and six came in the 6 -3 loss in Dallas in Game 1 .