NHL

Oilers forward Mike Comrie.

By GENE PRINCIPE

Sportsnet.ca

Mike Comrie just hasn't looked like himself and hasn't been playing like it either. He did have a bad case of the flu and it was also uncovered that he suffers from asthma. That's enough to make you sick but unlike his other teammates who had the flu and got over it, Comrie never did.

On Thursday, Oilers head coach Pat Quinn explained why. "He's got mononucleosis. He went and got a blood test and the tests came back normal on his spleen but right away they detected it and he's got mono."

That does help him understand why his season along with his health has taken a turn for the worst.

"It helps explain a few things about Mike," Quinn said. "He just didn't have any energy and it showed in his results on the ice so at least it all adds up."

The 29-year-old started the season with a five-game point streak and then missed a pair of games because of the flu on Oct. 24 and 25. Comrie returned and played a game before missing three more. It was at that point Comrie's asthma came to light which literally made it hard for him to breathe and subsequently play.

Yet, upon his return, Comrie had two goals in his first two games back. Since then he hasn't had a point in four contests and it all came to a head Monday against Columbus when the winger had no shots and played less than 11 minutes.

Instead of getting better the Oilers forward got worse. That is before the diagnosis was finally provided.

"We've been told he can't play through this virus," Quinn explained. "This could be a three-week thing… it could be five weeks. We just don't know but he can't play until it works his way through his system."

Comrie signed a one-year deal in September for his second tour of duty in Edmonton.