While there is still no definitive timeline for Leon Draisaitl's injury, Edmonton Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch is expecting to be without the German superstar for at least one game.
"I think it will be some time without him," Knoblauch said Monday. "Not sure if it's one, two (games), or how long it's going to be... I don't have much information right now."
Draisaitl was forced to leave Sunday's game against the Nashville Predators in the second period with an undisclosed injury.
The star centre took a hit from Predators forward Ozzy Wiesblatt along the boards and went directly to the bench and down the tunnel with a noticeable limp in the first period. He returned and played a few shifts at the end of the first period, before not coming out for the second.
“He didn’t feel right, he went off,” Knoblauch said after the game, describing the sequence of events around Draisaitl’s eventual departure. “He got checked out, felt like he could play on it, and the medical staff looked at him. They were comfortable with him trying it out, (but) he went out and he just didn’t feel quite right.
“The fact the medical staff said, ‘It doesn’t seem too bad and there’s no immediate red flags,’ tells me that it shouldn’t be a really long injury. There might be some time off, but we’ll find out later.”
Draisaitl got off to a hot start in the game — also his bobblehead night at Rogers Place — scoring his 35th goal of the season on an early power play. He had played just 1:39 before being forced to leave.
The goal lifted the German forward to 97 points in 65 games on the season.
After Sunday's win over the Predators, the Oilers sit third in the Pacific Division with 75 points. They are just two points behind the Anaheim Ducks for first in the division, but also just five points clear of the San Jose Sharks, who are outside the playoff picture.
Despite the importance of their upcoming games, Knobaluch said the Oilers will still be cautious with Draisaitl's return.
"We don't want to aggravate (the injury), make it worse," Knoblauch said Monday. "Obviously we are looking at the big picture, but the games are important.
"Nothing for sure right now making the playoffs, and we need to win hockey games. But obviously if he's not healthy to play, he's not going to play."
The Oilers return to action on Tuesday when they host Macklin Celebrini and the Sharks in a matchup with major implications for the playoff picture.
