The Edmonton Oilers fumbled another opportunity to extend their winning streak to three games with a cinematic 2-1 loss to the New Jersey Devils at Rogers Place on Tuesday. More importantly, captain Connor McDavid’s 17-game point streak against the Devils also came to a startling halt. The loss on home ice was hardly what the Oilers community would have wanted after two shutout victories.
Disappointment hangs heavy, but despite it all, there is light at the end of the tunnel for the fans of the franchise to look forward to. The formidable McDrai partnership may soon be back in action at Edmonton.
Oilers HC Kris Knoblauch Shares Encouraging Leon Draisaitl Update
Leon Draisaitl is second behind McDavid this season with 67 points in 48 games so far. The McDavid-Draisaitl partnership has served as a cure-all for many of the Oilers’ ills. Taken together, the duo has served as Knoblauch’s most foolproof formula for salvaging matches that had, on several occasions, crossed the point of no return.
While Knoblauch’s tendency to overuse the duo attracted the ire of the community in several instances, McDrai are capable of whipping up some serious magic on the ice.
As such, when news of Draisaitl’s sudden absence emerged, it was a serious concern for the Oilers. On January 18, the team’s official website released a statement informing the public of Draisaitl’s absence due to an illness in his family in Germany. The statement also urged the community to respect Draisaitl’s privacy during a difficult time.
Speaking on the subject, McDavid emphasized the family’s paramount importance and expressed the team’s solidarity with Draisaitl during such a challenging time. “Everybody in here is a brother, father, son, whatever it is, and that stuff comes first and he’s got to go home and be with his family. We’re obviously thinking about him and his entire family and we’ve got to take care of things while he’s gone.”
The good news is that the Oilers community may not have to endure Draisaitl’s absence much longer. HC Knoblauch has informed that the 30-year-old is expected to return later this week.
Despite Draisaitl’s absence, the Oilers managed to secure two shutout victories under McDavid’s deft leadership and the rest of the team rising to the occasion. The defeat at the hands of the Devils was a mood dampener, but it looks like the Oilers may not have to play without Draisaitl for long, as the forward may be back sooner than expected.
