MacIntyre & Brown Leave Final Pre-Season Game With Injuries

The Oilers delivered a huge hit to their own team toughness tonight in their final pre-season game, a 4-0 loss to the Dallas Stars.  In the second period, Steve MacIntyre attempted to throw a hit and injured his knee.  He was taken off of the ice with the assistance of the training staff and could not place weight on the leg as he left the ice.

MacIntyre was claimed four days ago by the Oilers in response to Zack Kassian's high stick on Sam Gagner, a hit which knocked Gagner out for two months and saw Kassian receive a 5-game suspension.

In the third period, Mike Brown was injured by Anton Belov as Belov attempted to throw a check along the boards.  Brown stumbled to the bench and was pulled over the boards by his teammates to get him off of the ice.  Brown took the hit high, but the boards blocked the view of a possible lower-body collision so the impact point is unknown.  Belov at 6'4", 215 lbs outsizes Brown significantly.  Brown stands just 5'11" 205 lbs.

In the post-game, Dallas Eakins said both players would be evaluated upon returning to Edmonton.  If either player misses any significant time, Ben Eager would be the beneficiary at the NHL level.  Should the Oilers need to call up replacements, Ryan Jones, sent down this week after clearing waivers and Tyler Pitlick, who hung on in camp until the final cut, seem to be the logical choices.