Oilers’ Draisaitl out with eye injury, won’t play vs. Senators

Edmonton Oilers coach Todd McLellan talks about his teams disappointing loss, how they didn't work hard enough and how his team seems to have forgotten how it has to work to win.

The Edmonton Oilers will be without forward Leon Draisaitl when they take on the Ottawa Senators on Saturday night.

The team made the announcement Friday afternoon, saying Draisaitl’s eye has yet to fully heal following an incident during Monday night’s loss to the Winnipeg Jets.

It’s unclear what happened, exactly, that caused the injury. Draisaitl finished Monday’s game, but missed practice Wednesday and Thursday and did not skate Friday.

“The swelling has come down in the eye and he has a bit of vision in it,” Oilers coach Todd McLellan said Thursday, via Jim Matheson of the Edmonton Journal. “But it wasn’t safe to put him on the ice (Thursday) and it’s not something we’re going to fool around with until he’s 100 per cent ready to come back.”

According to reports, rookie Kailer Yamamoto will most likely take his spot in the lineup.

The Oilers are 1-2 so far this season going into Saturday’s matchup, losing back-to-back games since their home opener win over the Calgary Flames.

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