Edmonton Oilers forward Nail Yakupov will be out of the lineup 2-4 weeks with a sprained ankle he sustained Wednesday when he was taken to the ice by an official during a 4-1 loss at the Carolina Hurricanes, the Oilers said Thursday.
During a faceoff at center ice early in the second period, Yakupov got his legs tangled with linesman Matt MacPherson, and each went down to the ice. Yakupov did not put any weight on his left leg while being helped to the Oilers dressing room at 2:22.
"It could have been significantly worse based on what happened," Oilers coach Todd McLellan said Thursday. "Hopefully, he heals quickly."
Yakupov, the No. 1 pick in the 2012 NHL Draft, had an assist on Benoit Pouliot's first-period goal to end a seven-game point drought. He has not scored a goal since Oct. 18, a span of 16 games.
Yakupov had been dropped to the right side of the third line with Mark Letestu and Matt Hendricks against the Hurricanes. His spot was taken at practice Thursday by Pouliot.
McLellan juggled his other lines at practice as well, moving Jordan Eberle up to the top line with Taylor Hall and Leon Draisaitl and dropping Teddy Purcell to the second line with Lauri Korpikoski and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins.