Oilers captain Connor McDavid won’t play vs. Canucks with lower-body injury

Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid will not be in the lineup for Saturday’s game against the Vancouver Canucks because of a lower-body injury.

McDavid was back on the ice on Friday, marking the first time he has skated since last Saturday’s 4-2 win in Calgary.

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 game against the Arizona Coyotes.

“I feel good. I feel good,” McDavid told assembled media in Edmonton. “Probably won’t got tonight, but I feel good,” said McDavid after his team’s morning skate.

“I never want to miss games, I really don’t. It’s frustrating,” McDavid said. “At the end of the day we’re after bigger things here. Everyone being healthy is priority No. 1.”

When asked if the injury was something that was nagging him or one that he’d just picked up, McDavid remained coy, saying: “Probably a little bit of both.”

He described himself as being “extremely confident” his injury would not be an issue come Game 1 of the playoffs.

Saturday’s game against the Canucks stands to be an important one for both clubs who are looking to clinch top spot in the Pacific Division and home ice advantage in the first two rounds of the playoffs.

McDavid is third in the league in points with 130, but leads the NHL with 99 assists.

Saturday’s Oilers-Canucks game can be seen at 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT on Sportsnet and Sportsnet+.