The Edmonton Oilers superstar was activated from injured reserve just hours before puck drop of Monday’s Game 1 (10 p.m. ET / 8 p.m. MT, Sportsnet and Sportsnet+) against the Anaheim Ducks, the team announced.
He will make his long-awaited return to the lineup as the two-time defending Western Conference champions open Round 1.
The German forward sat out the last 14 games of the regular season with a knee injury sustained on March 15. Draisaitl has been skating with the team for the past few days and participated in a full practice Sunday.
Draisaitl had 35 goals and 62 assists in 65 games at the time of his injury. He’s compiled 141 points in 96 career playoff games.
Edmonton reached the Stanley Cup final the last two years and lost both times to the Florida Panthers.
The Oilers host the Ducks in the first two games before the best-of-seven series flips to Anaheim for the third and fourth games.
