Oilers' Playoff Rival Announce Chris Tanev's Status

Edmonton Oilers will play Game 5 against the Dallas Stars - with or without Chris Tanev.

Perry Nelson-USA TODAY Sports - Oilers' Playoff Rival Announce Chris Tanev's Status

EDMONTON -- Time to engage the killer instinct.

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The Edmonton Oilers faceoff against the Dallas Stars tonight. Game five will be a series-defining game for both teams. Who will gain an advantage? Who will fall flat under the pressure and scrutiny?

For the Stars have a lot of balls up in the air. Stars' head coach Pete DeBoer met with the media this morning to discuss some of those decisions.

DeBoer revealed that they "have some guys who are game-time decisions" according to Owen Newkirk's reporting on Twitter. The most pressing of those decisions is defenseman Chris Tanev.

Tanev was spotted at the Edmonton International Airport yesterday, traveling with his foot in a walking boot.

DeBoer provided a small update on the nature of Tanev's injury. He said, "it (puck) got him in a soft spot." He also labeled him as a "game-time decision" and said "I'm optimistic" about his playing status.

If Tanev is not ready to go, his replacement has been revealed. Stars' prospect Lian Bichsel will dress if Tanev does not. This would serve as Bichsel's NHL debut if that ends up being the case.

Bichsel is a 6-foot-6 left-handed defender who split his 2023-24 season with Rogle BK in the Swedish Hockey League (SHL), and the Texas Stars of the AHL. He's closer to a stay-at-home defenseman rather than one who is offensive minded. In his 29 SHL games he collected four points. In the AHL Bichsel mustered seven points in 16 games.

Fans eager for information surrounding tonight's game will need to wait until warm-ups for Tanev's fate to be revealed. The game is at 6:30 PM Mountain time.

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