The Edmonton Oilers felt the absence of their captain, Connor McDavid, in a 6-1 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Monday night. Without the NHL superstar on the ice, the Oilers stumbled, conceding three goals in the first 15 minutes and failing to rally throughout the game. Their only goal came in the final 30 seconds, doing little to narrow the deficit or ease concerns about the team’s depth.
McDavid, who sustained an ankle injury in the previous game, was evaluated by medical staff in Edmonton on Monday. In a statement, the team said he is expected to return in two to three weeks, though he will not be joining the Oilers for their upcoming game against the Nashville Predators on Thursday.
McDavid’s injury compounds an already challenging start to the season for Edmonton. Currently, the Oilers rank near the bottom of the league in both goals per game and penalty killing, leaving head coach Jay Woodcroft and general manager Ken Holland with critical decisions on how to bridge the gap during McDavid’s absence.
