Oilers star Connor McDavid to miss third consecutive game with lower-body injury

In a significant development for the Edmonton Oilers, superstar center Connor McDavid will be sitting out his third consecutive game due to a lower-body injury. McDavid, obviously a key player for the Oilers, is currently third in the NHL with an impressive 130 points this season, including a league-leading 99 assists.

After Saturday’s morning skate with his teammates, Connor McDavid spoke to the local media, providing an update on his condition. “I feel good. Probably won’t go tonight, but I feel good,” McDavid said. He emphasized the team’s long-term goals are more important than the division title, stating, “At the end of the day, we’re after bigger things here. Everyone being healthy is priority No. 1.”

This cautious approach comes at a critical time in the season, as the Oilers prepare for an important matchup against the Vancouver Canucks on Hockey Night in Canada. Both teams are in a tight race to clinch the top spot in the Pacific Division, a position that would guarantee home-ice advantage through the first two rounds of the playoffs.

McDavid’s absence is undoubtedly a blow to the Oilers’ lineup, but it also emphasizes the team’s focus on ensuring full health and readiness for the postseason. The team will need to find ways to compensate for the loss of his playmaking abilities and leadership on the ice.

“I never want to miss games, I really don’t. It’s frustrating,” McDavid said.

As the Oilers adjust to another night without their captain, fans and analysts alike will be watching closely to see if the rest of the roster can step up in his absence in tonight’s massive divisional matchup. The outcome of Saturday’s game could have significant implications for the playoff landscape, making McDavid’s timely return to health all the more crucial for the Oilers’ postseason ambitions.

“The bigger picture is how he is going into the playoffs,” said Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch on Friday, adding the fact the Oilers play back-to-back games plays into deciding when McDavid would play. “Right now, if this was the playoffs, he would be playing, but we just want to make sure this is cleared and good to go.”

The 27-year-old missed Edmonton’s 5-1 win on Wednesday against the Vegas Golden Knights with a lower-body injury that also kept him out of Friday’s 3-2 OT loss against the Arizona Coyotes. McDavid has 31 goals and 99 assists for 130 points in 74 games.

CONNOR McDAVID’S SEASON SO FAR