They say bad news comes in threes. That’s exactly what the Edmonton Oilers got this week. According to head coach Kris Knoblauch, superstars Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl will be about for all three games this week due to various ailments.
Per Daniel Nugent-Bowman of The Athletic (subscription required), Knoblauch stated that the Edmonton Oilers would be without McDavid and Draisaitl for “a little while.” That little while is “maybe a week” per the Oilers coach.
Draisaitl hasn’t played since last Tuesday against the Utah Hockey Club. McDavid left last Thursday's matchup against the Winnipeg Jets midway through the second period. By the looks of the replays, Draisaitl could be dealing with a leg injury, perhaps a knee issue. Meanwhile, judging from the replay, McDavid may have suffered a groin pull.
The Oilers have three crucial games this week. First, they visit the Dallas Stars on Wednesday night. Then, Edmonton plays its second game in as many nights against the Seattle Kraken. The club caps off a three-games-in-four-night stint, facing the Calgary Flames on Saturday night.
If Knoblauch’s comments ring true, McDavid and/or Draisaitl could be back in the lineup against the Vegas Golden Knights next Tuesday night.
Thus far, the Oilers have fared relatively well without their star players. Edmonton lost on Thursday night against the Jets, 4-3 in overtime. Then, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins stepped up last Saturday night, notching a hat trick against the Kraken.
So, it remains to be seen who will step up over this next batch of games while McDavid and Draisaitl continue to the shelf.
Edmonton Oilers and LA Kings jockeying for position in Pacific Division
The Edmonton Oilers are currently neck-and-neck with the LA Kings for second spot in the Pacific Division. Currently, the Kings hold second despite both teams having 87 points. The Kings have fewer regulation wins but also have fewer regulation losses. As a result, the Kings get the second seed.
While the precise seedings don’t affect the first-round playoff matchup, finishing second has the added incentive of getting home-ice advantage in the first round. Considering that the Kings are 25-3-4 at home, and the Oilers are 19-13-2 on the road. Moreover, the Kings are 14-18-5 on the road, with the Oilers 22-11-3 at home. So, it would make sense for the Oilers to push for home-ice advantage.
It's worth pointing out that first place in the Pacific is still within reach. The Golden Knights are 6-2-2 in their last 10 games. As such, there could be an opportunity to leapfrog Vegas into the top spot. With the Oilers set to play the Golden Knights once more this season, and the Kings twice, there’s an opening for Edmonton to finish atop the division.
It all depends on the team rallying together and playing like there’s no tomorrow. Desperation is a good quality for playoff-bound teams heading into the final stretch of the season.
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