Oilers’ Leon Draisaitl out Saturday vs. Kings with lower-body injury

The Edmonton Oilers will have to play without the league’s top scorer for at least one more game.

Leon Draisaitl won’t play against the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday and will likely miss Monday’s action against the Anaheim Ducks, head coach Kris Knoblauch told reporters Friday.

However, he is expected to return well before playoffs and the injury is considered short-term.

The NHL’s leading goal-scorer appeared to be injured midway through the second period of the Oilers’ 3-2 victory over the San Jose Sharks on Thursday.

Knoblauch classifies this as a lower-body injury, though the star forward missed four games last month with an undisclosed injury.

Draisaitl has 52 goals on the season and is third in the league for points with 102.

Trent Frederic is considered as a slight possibility for Sunday’s game, per Knoblauch. If he plays, it will be his debut in an Oilers uniform after he was traded to the team at the deadline from the Boston Bruins. He has been dealing with ankle issues that have kept him off the ice.

Connor McDavid is also sidelined and has been since March 20 when he collided with Winnipeg Jets defenceman Josh Morrissey.