Oilers Face Canucks Amidst Draisaitl’s Leave of Absence
VANCOUVER, BC – The Edmonton Oilers will take on the Vancouver Canucks tonight at Rogers Arena without star forward Leon Draisaitl. The team announced this morning that Draisaitl will be taking a leave of absence and returning to Germany due to a family illness. He is expected to rejoin the team sometime next week during their eight-game homestand.
This is a significant loss for the Oilers, especially considering Draisaitl’s impressive record against the Canucks. He has registered at least one point in 26 of his last 27 regular season games against Vancouver (23 goals, 21 assists). The Canucks, meanwhile, have struggled against Draisaitl, going 0-7-2 in their previous nine contests.
McDavid & Team Offer Support
Captain Connor McDavid emphasized the team’s support for Draisaitl during this difficult time. “Obviously, we’ll miss him, but the job comes second,” McDavid stated. “Everybody in here is a brother, father, son or whatever, and that stuff comes first. He’s got to go home and be with his family, and we’re thinking about him and his entire family, so we’ve got to take care of things while he’s gone.”
Opportunities for Other Players
McDavid also highlighted the opportunity for other players to step up in Draisaitl’s absence. “You saw it last year when we kind of got hit with the injury bug,” he said. “We had some guys step up in a really big way, so obviously, we’re looking for the same thing this year with a little bit more opportunity.” With Adam Henrique also sidelined, several players will have a chance to make an impact.
Lineup Changes for Tonight’s Game
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins will move up to centre on the second line, playing in his 999th NHL game in his hometown of Burnaby. He will be flanked by Kasperi Kapanen and Trent Frederic. Vasily Podkolzin will take over left-wing responsibilities on the top line alongside Zach Hyman and Connor McDavid. McDavid expressed excitement about playing with Podkolzin, praising his recent performance and work ethic.
Andrew Mangiapane will return to the lineup to fill Draisaitl’s spot on the fourth line, playing with Curtis Lazar and Mattias Janmark. Tristan Jarry will start in goal for the Oilers, with Calvin Pickard serving as the backup. Connor Ingram remains in Edmonton and could start Sunday’s game against the St. Louis Blues.
Projected Oilers Lineup vs. Canucks
- Top Line: Podkolzin – McDavid – Hyman
- Second Line: Frederic – Nugent-Hopkins – Kapanen
- Third Line: Howard – Roslovic – Savoie
- Fourth Line: Mangiapane – Lazar – Janmark
- Defense: Ekholm – Bouchard, Nurse – Emberson, Walman – Stastney
- Goalies: Jarry (starter), Pickard (backup)
Fans can catch the Oilers game today against the Canucks at Rogers Arena. Stay tuned for updates and analysis as the team navigates this challenge.
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