Oilers recall Tyler Benson; James Neal placed on IR

Welcome back, Tyler!

A quick break from the cold in Bakersfield is all his latest demotion will amount to after being recalled this afternoon:

Benson (0-0-0, 2 NHL GP | 9-27-36, 43 AHL GP), figures to get more of a look this time with both Connor McDavid and James Neal on the shelf for the next little while. Though Leon Draisaitl carried the mail yesterday, the next few games are a gauntlet and the Oilers are desperate for some skill up front. It will be interesting to see where he lines up and how Dave Tippett uses him this time around.

Neal has been placed on IR retroactive to January 30, which tracks as he hasn’t seen game action since Edmonton’s shootout loss to those wretched Calgary Flames on January 29. Details on this one are few and far between, but the latest has Neal dealing with a foot injury. One has to wonder whether it’s the same foot injury that was apparently bothering him earlier in the year. One also has to wonder how serious it is given today’s IR designation, retroactive or otherwise.

The Oilers have gone 5-1-0 in his absence, including last night’s big win in their first game without McDavid.