Oilers’ Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl to have imaging done to understand severity of injuries

Edmonton Oilers superstars Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl will both undergo medical imaging Friday as the club strives to better understand the severity of their respective injuries and anticipated timelines for return, reports Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli.

Facing the Winnipeg Jets on Thursday, McDavid exited late in the second period and did not return after suffering an apparent lower-body injury, while Draisaitl did not dress due to an undisclosed injury. Following the 4-3 overtime loss to the Jets, Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch did not have an update on McDavid’s status, per TSN’s Ryan Rishaug.

On the season, the duo sit second and fourth in league-wide scoring, with Draisaitl headlining the NHL with 49 goals and sitting second to only Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon with 101 points in 68 games. For McDavid, through 63 appearances this season the five-time Art Ross Trophy winner has tallied 90 points counting 26 goals and 64 assists. Last season, McDavid finished third in the scoring race behind Tampa Bay Lightning right winger Nikita Kucherov and MacKinnon as he notched 132 points counting 32 goals and 100 assists in 76 games.

Beyond McDavid and Draisaitl, the Oilers could also be without starting goaltender Stuart Skinner who left late in the third period Thursday after being bumped in the crease by Jets center Gabriel Vilardi. Through 47 appearances with the Oilers this season, Skinner has posted a 23-17-4 showing coupled with an .896 save percentage, 2.85 goals-against average, and two shutouts.

Following Thursday’s overtime loss to the Jets, the Oilers stand 40-24-5 on the season and three points back of the Vegas Golden Knights for top spot in the Pacific Division. The Oilers have qualified for the postseason in each of the past five seasons highlighted by a seven-game showdown versus the Florida Panthers in the 2024 Stanley Cup Final.