Oilers’ Connor McDavid Expected to Be Out 1-2 Weeks With Upper Body Injury

Edmonton Oilers star Connor McDavid suffered an upper-body injury Saturday against the Winnipeg Jets and is expected to miss “a week or two.

” McDavid did not play in the final four minutes of Saturday’s game and remained on the bench in overtime.
He also had two assists in the 3-2 loss.
The announced schedule puts McDavid’s spot in the Heritage Classic on October 29th in jeopardy.
The Oilers opened the season with 1 win, 3 losses, and 1 draw, a disappointing start for a team that was expected to be a contender for the 2024 Stanley Cup.
According to Daniel Nugent-Bowman of The Athletic, Oilers head coach Jay Woodcroft said after Saturday’s loss that McDavid’s injury “appears to be muscular.
” McDavid appeared to be holding his left side or his lower back while running in the lane during his final shift late in the third period.
The Sportsnet committee noted that McDavid appeared to be on the same page after an awkward first-period collision with Winnipeg Jets defenseman Josh Morrissey.

Woodcroft said after the game that he did not believe the incident, which resulted in Morrissey’s holding penalty, caused McDavid’s injury.
According to Derek Van Diest of NHL.com, “No, when he came on the ice (in the third period), I thought it was more like him, but there was something wrong with him.
” Woodcroft was quoted as saying on Saturday.
“Here’s what it looked like off the bench: McDavid had a relatively slow start in scoring for a three-time Art Ross Trophy winner, with two goals and eight points in his first five games, and 82 points last season.
Played in the game.
Scored 64 goals in the game.
The Oilers will rely on Leon Draisaitl in McDavid’s absence, but other results will be needed for the team to get their second win of the season.

They will also need reinforcements for their underperforming forwards, especially Evander Kane, who has yet to score this season.
Among the notable games next season is another Cup appearance on November 17th.
There will be a matchup against the contenders, the Dallas Stars.
The potential loss of McDavid could be a blow to one of the NHL’s biggest events.
The league enters the Heritage Classic with 37 consecutive sold-out outdoor games, according to ESPN’s Greg Wisinski.