In a disappointing 6-1 defeat to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Monday, Edmonton Oilers star Connor McDavid exited the game due to a lower-body injury. McDavid sustained the injury just 37 seconds into his first shift after an awkward fall.
Following the game, head coach Kris Knoblauch announced that McDavid will return to Edmonton for evaluation. The Oilers are set to play their next two games on the road against the Nashville Predators on Thursday and the Calgary Flames on Sunday.
“It should be an opportunity for guys to step up and say, ‘Oh, I got this,'” Knoblauch said. “It’s just more ice time, more opportunity. It’s tough any time playing without your best player, but something that we’re gonna have to. Hopefully short term. … Maybe that’s one, two games, I’m not sure.”
The Blue Jackets established a commanding 3-0 lead by the end of the first period. Oilers defenseman Mattias Ekholm managed to score with 27 seconds remaining, preventing goaltender Elvis Merzlikins from achieving a shutout.
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins logged 20:42 of ice time, leading Edmonton’s forwards in McDavid’s absence. He commented, “(McDavid’s) our leader, obviously, and also the best player in the game, so of course you’re gonna feel it. We gotta do a better job of stepping up when a guy like that goes down, though.”
In the first nine games of the season, McDavid recorded three goals and 10 points. Last year, he missed six games, during which the Oilers had a record of 1-4-1. In contrast, McDavid played all 82 games during the 2022-23 season.
Last season, he earned the Conn Smythe Trophy and finished third in Hart Trophy voting after tallying 100 assists and 132 points.
