83 Matt Benning D

Benning served as a healthy scratch for Saturday's game against the Blue Jackets.

The 25-year-old defenseman exited the lineup as Oscar Klefbom (shoulder) returned to action. Benning managed six hits and no points in his last five contests. With the Oilers' defense at full health, Benning will likely spend a majority of the final 13 games of the year in the press box unless another blueliner gets hurt.

Benning dished an assist, four hits and two shots on net in Friday's 5-3 loss to the Wild.

Benning was credited with an assist on Leon Draisaitl's fluky second-period tally. That put an end to the defenseman's nine-game point drought. Benning has eight points, 71 hits and a plus-9 rating through 36 contests this year. He isn't worth a look in most fantasy formats.

Benning has no points in his last six games.

In that span, the defenseman has amassed 13 hits, five shots on goal and a minus-2 rating. Benning is used on the Oilers' third pairing. He's unlikely to make enough of a scoring impact to interest fantasy owners.

Benning had an assist, three blocked shots and a plus-3 rating in Friday's 4-2 win over the Blues.

Benning has a goal and an assist in two games since his return from a head injury. The 25-year-old figures to get a fair amount of playing time on the bottom pairing with Kris Russell (concussion) out. Benning has seven points, 50 hits and a plus-11 rating in 26 contests this season.

Benning scored a goal on three shots in Wednesday's 4-3 shootout loss to the Flames.

Benning has missed the better part of two months due to head injuries, but he had a heroic return Wednesday. The defenseman's tally at 11:49 of the third period tied the game at three and ultimately earned the Oilers a point in the standings. The 25-year-old has six points, 50 hits and a plus-8 rating through 25 contests, although it's unclear how often he'll be in the lineup, as coach Dave Tippett will want youngster Caleb Jones to get consistent playing time, as well.

Benning (head) was activated off injured reserve and will suit up versus Calgary on Wednesday.

Benning returns to action following a 20-game stint on IR. The blueliner is still looking for his first goal of the 2019-20 campaign, having notched just five helpers, 18 shots and 50 hits in 24 appearances. With Benning fully fit, Caleb Jones or Kris Russell will be relegated to the press box.

Benning was recalled from his conditioning assignment with AHL Bakersfield on Monday.

Benning will likely still need some time to get back up to speed with the Oilers before he is activated off injured reserve, especially considering he's played in the NHL just once since Nov. 19. In three games with the Condors, the 25-year-old notched one assist, two PIM and a plus-1 rating. Once given the all-clear, Benning figures to jump Caleb Jones or Kris Russell on the depth chart.

Benning (head) was sent down to AHL Bakersfield on a conditioning stint Sunday.

After missing the final five games of November with a concussion, Benning played just one game before suffering another head injury and hasn't suited up since. Edmonton doesn't play again until Jan. 29 but AHL Bakersfield has four games before then. If things go well, the 25-year-old blueliner could return after the All-Star break.

Coach Dave Tippett said Benning (head) won't return until after the All-Star break, Jack Michaels of the Oilers Radio Network reports.

Benning was a possibility to return during the Oilers' five-game road trip, which ends Saturday in Calgary. Instead, it appears the defenseman will miss at least two more weeks. The team is obviously being cautious with the 25-year-old, who has already suffered two head injuries this season. Based on the latest timeline, Benning's next chance to return would be Jan. 29 against the Flames. With the Oilers only playing three games between now and then, he'll have time to practice and get back up to speed.

Benning (head) has been skating and may return during the team's road trip, Jonathan Willis The Athletic reports.

Benning hasn't played since Dec. 1, but his return appears imminent. The Oilers have three games remaining on the road trip that ends Jan. 11 in Calgary, and the team wants to make sure it doesn't rush the 25-year-old blueliner back too soon since it's his second head injury of the season.

The Oilers placed Benning (head) on injured reserve Tuesday.

Edmonton has yet to release an expected timetable for Benning's recovery, but he'll miss the team's next three games at a minimum now that he's been placed on IR. The Oilers recalled Joel Persson from AHL Bakersfield in a corresponding move to fill in while Benning's on the shelf.

According to head coach Dave Tippett, Benning (head) has passed concussion tests, but will "probably be out a bit," Daniel Nugent-Bowman of The Athletic reports.

Benning took a shot to the head during Sunday's 3-2 win over the Canucks and will miss some time as a result. The 25-year-old has been a solid bottom-pairing option for the Oilers this season, but he's only picked up five points while averaging 13:42 of ice time in 24 appearances, so there's no reason for fantasy owners to track his availability.

Coach Dave Tippett said Benning exited Sunday's win over the Canucks due to a shot that hit him in the head, Daniel Nugent-Bowman of The Athletic reports.

Benning returned to the game after absorbing this shot and later took another shot to the foot, but the bench boss revealed it was the former that forced the 25-year-old blueliner out after 9:44 of ice time. Considering this was Benning's first game back from a concussion, the team will certainly monitor this situation closely.

Benning (undisclosed) left Sunday's game in Vancouver and will not return.

Benning returned from injured reserve for Sunday's contest but already sustained another injury. He was hit in the head with a shot but returned before leaving a second time after blocking a shot. The Oilers have a couple of days off before Wednesday's contest against the Senators and an update on his status will be available before then.

Edmonton activated Benning (concussion) from injured reserve Friday.

The Oilers now have eight healthy defensemen on their roster, so it wouldn't be surprising to see Benning sit as a scratch for Saturday's clash with the Canucks. The 25-year-old has notched five helpers while posting a plus-8 rating in 23 games this campaign.

The Oilers placed Benning (concussion) on injured reserve Thursday.

Benning has already been ruled out of Edmonton's next three games, so this move makes sense from a roster-management standpoint. The 25-year-old blueliner will be eligible to return Wednesday against the Avalanche, but recoveries from concussions are notoriously difficult to predict, so he should be considered out indefinitely until the Oilers release another update on his status.

Benning is currently in the concussion protocol, Jack Michaels of the Oilers Radio Network reports.

Benning was previously ruled out for 2-3 games due to an upper-body injury, which has been clarified as a concussion. Fortunately for the Oilers, Benning's absence is perfectly timed with Adam Larsson being cleared to play for the first time since Opening Night.

Benning (upper body) is expected to miss the next 2-to-3 games, Jason Gregor of OilersNation.com reports.

Benning's absence will extend through at least Saturday's game against the Golden Knights, though it wouldn't be surprising if he can't return Sunday either and targets next Wednesday's contest versus Colorado to retake the ice. The blueliner's absence will result in Adam Larsson drawing in alongside Kris Russell on Thursday.

Benning exited Tuesday's game versus the Sharks with an upper-body injury and will not return, Mark Spector of Sportsnet.ca reports.

Benning's injury came when he got tangled up with Evander Kane late in the first period. The Oilers will be forced to finish the game with five defenseman. Benning's injury likely won't hurt the team long-term -- Adam Larsson (lower leg) is expected to return Thursday versus the Kings. If that timeline is pushed back, a blueliner may need to be called up from AHL Bakersfield.

Benning generated an assist and two hits in Friday's 4-0 win over the Devils.

Benning's point shot deflected off of Gaetan Haas and made its way behind Cory Schneider at 15:45 of the second period. Benning has been steady with five helpers and 37 hits in 18 games. Three of the defender's assists have come in his last four outings. Don't expect him to keep that pace up for long, especially while seeing only third-pairing minutes.