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Justin Schultz out 2-4 weeks; Draisaitl on line with Hall and RNH

Darren Helm, Justin Schultz

Darren Helm, Justin Schultz

AP

Edmonton defenseman Justin Schultz will be sidelined 2-4 weeks with a back injury, the Oilers announced today.

Schultz was hurt Sunday and missed Tuesday’s loss in Minnesota. The 25-year-old offensive specialist has just one assist in nine games while logging an average of 21:47 in ice time.

The Oilers are also without defenseman Griffin Reinhart due to injury. Darnell Nurse was called up to play Tuesday and proceeded to score a goal against the Wild.

The blue line is not the only area that’s been hit by injuries. In addition to Schultz and Reinhart, forwards Jordan Eberle, Matt Hendricks, and Rob Klinkhammer are all on injured reserve.

The Oilers called up young Leon Draisaitl this morning. He’s expected to be in the lineup tonight versus Montreal, playing the wing on a line with Taylor Hall and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins.

“We wanted Leon down there more gaining experience but because of how deep we are injury-wise, he’s the next forward to come up and he’ll play with two very good players tonight,” coach Todd McLellan told reporters.

“This will be a good evaluation tool for Leon as it was for Darnell (Nurse) when we called him back and he played in Minnesota.”

Related: Where does Draisaitl fit?