Injured forwards doubtful to return for Ducks in Game 7
Patrick Eaves, Logan Shaw 'highly questionable' to practice Tuesday, play against Oilers
by Dan Arritt / NHL.com Correspondent
ANAHEIM -- Anaheim Ducks forwards Patrick Eaves and Logan Shaw are doubtful for Game 7 of the Western Conference Second Round against the Edmonton Oilers at Honda Center on Wednesday.
The best-of-7 series is tied 3-3 with Game 7 in Anaheim (TBD; NBCSN, SN, TVA Sports).
Coach Randy Carlyle said Eaves and Shaw are highly questionable to practice Tuesday.
Eaves has missed the past three Stanley Cup Playoff games because of a lower-body injury and Shaw missed a 7-1 loss in Game 6 on Sunday after sustaining a lower-body injury in Game 5.
Eaves had 14 points (11 goals, three assists) in 20 regular-season games after being acquired from the Dallas Stars in a trade on Feb. 24, and has four points (two goals, two assists) in seven playoff games.
[RELATED: Complete Ducks vs. Oilers series coverage]
Shaw spent most of the season on the Ducks fourth line. He does not have a point in nine playoff games. Shaw left the ice in discomfort after being hit by a shot at 9:55 of the third period in Game 5.
Anaheim trailed 3-0 at the time of Shaw's injury and later scored three goals in the final 3:16 of the third period to tie the game before winning 4-3 in the second overtime to take a 3-2 series lead.
Ducks forward Ondrej Kase, who was recalled from San Diego of the American Hockey League to replace Eaves in Game 4 and then sustained a lower-body injury in the first period, missed the past two games, but was an option for Game 6, Carlyle said before the game.
Kase did not play Game 6, however. Instead, defenseman Korbinian Holzer played wing on the fourth line.
Defenseman Kevin Bieksa, who has missed the past five games because of a lower-body injury, was also an option to return, but Carlyle opted to stick with the same six defensemen from the previous five games.
Bieksa has played in four Game 7s in his 12-year NHL career and Carlyle said he values that type of experience.
"Those are all strengths," he said.