Oilers' Draisaitl doubtful vs Jets; Kane, Prime Minister Carney join team for pregame skate
EDMONTON, Alberta (AP) — NHL leading goal-scorer Leon Draisaitl is doubtful to play Thursday, when the forward’s Edmonton Oilers host the Western Conference-leading Winnipeg Jets.
Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch listed Draisaitl as day-to-day in saying the team is taking a cautious approach a month before the playoffs open. Draisaitl sustained an undisclosed injury in a 7-1 win over Utah on Tuesday.
“We feel that this is something that he probably could play through,” Knoblauch said. “We certainly don’t want it to be an issue for the long term.”
Draisaitl’s 49 goals lead the league, and he’s one away from reaching the 50-goal plateau for the fourth time in 11 NHL seasons. He also ranks second in the league with 101 points, three behind Colorado’s Nathan MacKinnon entering games Thursday.
In the meantime, Oilers forward Evander Kane joined his teammates for an optional pregame skate for the first time this season. The 33-year-old Kane has yet to play this season. He remains on long-term IR after having abdominal surgery in September followed by a knee procedure done in January.
Also joining the Oilers for their morning skate was newly sworn in Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, who is a fan of the team having grown up in Edmonton. Carney wore an Oilers No. 24 jersey to represent being the nation’s 24th prime minister upon replacing Justin Trudeau, who stepped down earlier this month.
The 60-year-old Carney was a third-string goaltender at Harvard and co-captain of the Oxford University Blues.
In calling it “a special moment” to be joined by Carney, Knoblauch added: “It’s nice to have a (prime minister) who cheers for the good team.”
Carney was in Edmonton to meet with Alberta Premier Danielle Smith.
___
AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl
-
Jets Defeat A Superstar-Less Oilers Squad 4-3 In Overtime
Without Connor McDavid for the third period and overtime and Leon Draisaitl for the entire game, the Edmonton Oilers were able to bring the Winnipeg Jets to overtime, but the Jets prevailed, ...Yahoo Sports - 12h -
Oilers captain Connor McDavid misses 3rd period against Jets due to lower-body injury
Oilers captain Connor McDavid sustained a lower-body injury and has been ruled out from playing in the third period in Edmonton’s home game against the Western Conference-leading Winnipeg Jets on ...Yahoo Sports - 12h -
Islanders force overtime but fall to Oilers, 2-1
Leon Draisaitl scored his second goal of the night on a breakaway 3:52 into overtime, and the Edmonton Oilers beat the New York Islanders 2-1 on Friday night.Yahoo Sports - 6d -
Connor scores in OT to lead Jets to 4-3 win over Oilers, who lost McDavid and Skinner to injuries
Kyle Connor scored 1:13 into overtime to lift the Winnipeg Jets to a 4-3 victory over the Edmonton Oilers, who lost Connor McDavid and Stuart Skinner to injuries Thursday night. Cole Perfetti, ...Yahoo Sports - 11h -
Rangers Vs. Oilers Preview, Projected Lineup
The New York Rangers are all set for their matchup against the Edmonton Oilers tonight at 7 PM EST.Yahoo Sports - 4d -
Devils outlast Oilers with third-period comeback for third straight win
Jesper Bratt had a goal and two assists for his second straight three-point game and the New Jersey Devils rallied to beat the Edmonton Oilers 3-2 on Thursday night.Yahoo Sports - Mar. 14 -
Boeser scores 2 goals as Canucks beat Western Conference-leading Jets 6-2
Brock Boeser scored twice and had an assist as the Vancouver Canucks handed the Winnipeg Jets a 6-2 drubbing on Tuesday night. Pius Suter added two goals, including one into an empty net, while ...Yahoo Sports - 2d -
Hyman scores twice and Oilers hang on to edge Stars 5-4
Zach Hyman had two goals and an assist and the Edmonton Oilers hung on to beat the Dallas Stars 5-4ABC News - Mar. 9 -
Rangers allow go-ahead goal late in 3-1 loss to Oilers
Viktor Arvidsson scored the tiebreaking goal just early in the third period and the Edmonton Oilers beat the New York Rangers 3-1 on Sunday night.Yahoo Sports - 4d
More from Yahoo Sports
-
Where would Aliyah Chavez be on ESPN's best women's NCAA tournament players rankings?
Aaliyah Chavez is a McDonald's All-American. If she were in college now, where would she rank on ESPN's tournament player rankings?Yahoo Sports - 23m -
Ernie Johnson, Clark Kellogg Kick Off March Madness with Emotional Greg Gumbel Tribute: ‘He Was So Good at What He Did’
Gumbel, the renowned sports broadcaster, died at the age of 78 last DecemberYahoo Sports - 24m -
Great Britain’s Jeremiah Azu wins 60m gold at World Indoor Championships
Welshman Jeremiah Azu fought back tears after claiming 60 metres gold in a personal best 6.49 seconds on the first day of the World Athletics Indoor Championships in China.Yahoo Sports - 25m -
Grant Nelson will be available for Alabama's first NCAA Tournament game
Alabama will have its top rebounder available for its first NCAA Tournament game. According to a report from CBS Sports' Jon Rothstein, forward Grant Nelson will be available to suit up, but will ...Yahoo Sports - 27m -
ESPN analyst sees Rams as sleeper to take QB early in 2025 NFL draft
ESPN's Field Yates picked the Rams as his sleeper team to draft a quarterback early this year, potentially in Round 1 or 2Yahoo Sports - 27m
More in Sports
-
Where would Aliyah Chavez be on ESPN's best women's NCAA tournament players rankings?
Aaliyah Chavez is a McDonald's All-American. If she were in college now, where would she rank on ESPN's tournament player rankings?Yahoo Sports - 23m -
Ernie Johnson, Clark Kellogg Kick Off March Madness with Emotional Greg Gumbel Tribute: ‘He Was So Good at What He Did’
Gumbel, the renowned sports broadcaster, died at the age of 78 last DecemberYahoo Sports - 24m -
March Madness live tracker: Highlights, updates, reactions and more
Follow along as we track 16 more games in the round of 64 of the men's NCAA tournament.ESPN - 24m -
Two years after losing the Texas job, Chris Beard right at home at Ole Miss
The university and the city of Oxford have welcomed the coach as he rebuilds the men's basketball team.ESPN - 25m -
Great Britain’s Jeremiah Azu wins 60m gold at World Indoor Championships
Welshman Jeremiah Azu fought back tears after claiming 60 metres gold in a personal best 6.49 seconds on the first day of the World Athletics Indoor Championships in China.Yahoo Sports - 25m