Coyotes D Oliver Ekman-Larsson being evaluated after leaving game vs. Kings
Jan 31, 2020, 3:33 PM
Oliver Ekman-Larsson #23 of the Arizona Coyotes skates onto the ice during the NHL game against the St. Louis Blues at Gila River Arena on December 31, 2019 in Glendale, Arizona. The Coyotes defeated the Blues 3-1. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, Ariz. — Arizona Coyotes captain and top-pairing defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson left Thursday night’s loss to the Kings and did not return.
Head coach Rick Tocchet still didn’t have a definitive update on his status Friday afternoon, but indicated that he was getting an MRI.
“I don’t think it’s serious, but I don’t know. I’m not a doctor,” Tocchet said. “So we’ll see how he feels tomorrow.”
Tocchet said it was a day-to-day issue unless he gets results that would indicate otherwise. The Coyotes did not practice on Friday, but will have a morning skate on Saturday before their evening game against the Chicago Blackhawks.
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Jordan Oesterle, who was scratched on Thursday, would seem the most likely candidate to replace Ekman-Larsson in the lineup if he were to miss the game.
OTHER HEALTH UPDATES
— Goaltender Darcy Kuemper was on the ice Friday and is still working back from a lower-body injury that’s kept him out since Dec. 19.
“Light at the end of the tunnel. It’s the same thing,” Tocchet said. “Hasn’t practiced with us yet. I don’t know when that’s going to be. But he’s obviously getting better.”
— Forward Brad Richardson (lower-body) has a “good chance” of playing on Saturday against Chicago. “I’m not sure. We’ll see how he is tomorrow,” Tocchet said.
— Forward Barrett Hayton, who injured his shoulder at the World Junior Championship, is still working back to getting cleared for contact. He skated on Friday, and Tocchet said Hayton looked “good.”
