Zach Hyman could return for Oilers-Kings game Tuesday if cleared by medical staff

Zach Hyman could return to the Edmonton Oilers lineup for Tuesday's game against Los Angeles, provided he gets the green light from the medical staff.

The assistant captain has been sidelined for the last four games with an upper-body injury sustained in an exhibition game against Calgary. He played 20 minutes in the season-opener at home against the Canucks before sitting out. Coach Mike Babcock said the decision is not his to make: "Imagine he'll meet with our people (doctors, athletic therapist) once again. I don't make those decisions."

If Hyman is cleared, he will likely slot into the top six and return to the first power-play unit as a net-front presence — a role that was instrumental in his game when he reunited with Babcock earlier this year.

The Oilers are the only NHL team that hasn't lost a game in regulation, though their defense has tightened considerably since the season began. In the first two games against Vancouver, they scored 14 and allowed 13. Over the last three matches, they've allowed just four goals. Hyman credited new associate coach D.J. Smith and returnee Paul McFarland with instilling discipline. "The coaching staff has done a really good job instilling how they want us to play," Hyman said. "It takes time for things to be perfected, but as a whole, guys are buying in and we're seeing the results."

Evan Bouchard leads the team with 12 points and has been on ice for 14 goals for and just one against. Connor McDavid has 13 points, and Leon Draisaitl has nine. Vasily Podkolzin has scored five goals. Several role players are stepping up in place of injured or absent forwards Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Matt Savoie, including rookies Owen Michaels (60 percent on faceoffs through five games) and others like Alex Formenton, Mathieu Joseph, Ryan Shea, and Devon Levi.