The Edmonton Oilers earned a 3-1 win against the Nashville Predators on Sunday. However, the victory came with concern after Leon Draisaitl left the game with an injury.
Draisaitl suffered an undisclosed injury during the first period at Rogers Place. Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch said after the game that he had no update on the forward’s status. The team will continue to evaluate him before Tuesday’s matchup against the San Jose Sharks.
The Oilers star opened the scoring early in the game. Draisaitl scored a power-play goal at 3:12 of the first period to give Edmonton a 1-0 lead. Connor McDavid sent a cross-ice pass to the right circle, and Draisaitl fired a wrist shot through traffic. The puck slipped between the legs of Zachary L’Heureux and goalie Justus Annunen.
MORE: Connor McDavid Questions NHL’s Discipline Process After Auston Matthews Injury
Shortly after the goal, Draisaitl took a hard hit from Predators forward Ozzy Wiesblatt along the boards. The forward briefly left the ice but returned for two more shifts in the first period. He did not return to the bench for the start of the second period.
Speaking to the media after the game, Knoblauch said Draisaitl tried to play through the issue but did not feel right. The medical staff checked him, and the coach added that the injury does not appear serious.
“He didn’t feel right. He went off, he got checked out, felt like he could play on it,” Knoblauch said after the win over the Predators. “The medical staff looked at him, and they were comfortable with him trying it out. He went out, and he just didn’t feel quite right.
“The fact that the medical staff said it doesn’t seem too bad and there’s no immediate red flags, it tells me that it shouldn’t be a really long injury. There might be some time off, but we’ll find out later.”
So, the team will know more in the coming days.
Leon Draisaitl Extended His Point Streak in the Predators Game
Before leaving the Predators game, Draisaitl extended his point streak to nine NHL games. During that span, he has recorded six goals and 11 assists. The 30-year-old remains one of the Oilers’ most important offensive players.
Edmonton still controlled the game after his exit. Matthew Savoie and Zach Hyman each scored, while goalie Connor Ingram made 26 saves. Connor McDavid finished with three assists to lead the offense, he now has 114 points this season.
MORE: “He’s Very Frustrated”: Oilers’ Coach On Connor McDavid Fighting with Stars’ Center in 7-2 Loss
The Oilers improved to 33-26-9 and sit third in the Pacific Division with 75 points. Their offense continues to produce at a high rate, averaging 3.50 goals per game this season.
Edmonton will host the San Jose Sharks on Tuesday night. Draisaitl is currently considered day-to-day.
