McDavid Exits Game with Lower-Body Injury in Oilers' Defeat to Blue Jackets

In a disappointing 6-1 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Monday, Edmonton Oilers star Connor McDavid had to leave the game due to a lower-body injury. The injury occurred just 37 seconds into his first shift when he fell awkwardly.

Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch confirmed in a postgame statement that McDavid will return to Edmonton for evaluation. The Oilers are set to face the Nashville Predators on Thursday and the Calgary Flames on Sunday in their next two games.

"It should be an opportunity for guys to step up and say, 'Oh, I got this,'" Knoblauch mentioned, acknowledging the challenges of playing without McDavid. He expressed hope that McDavid's absence would be brief, suggesting it could last one or two games.

The Blue Jackets quickly took control of the game, racing to a 3-0 lead before the end of the first period. Oilers defenseman Mattias Ekholm managed to score with 27 seconds remaining in the period, breaking goaltender Elvis Merzlikins' shutout.

In McDavid's absence, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins logged 20:42 of ice time, leading Edmonton's forwards. Nugent-Hopkins commented, "(McDavid's) our leader, obviously, and also the best player in the game, so of course you're gonna feel it. We gotta do a better job of stepping up when a guy like that goes down, though."

McDavid has had a strong start to the season, scoring three goals and accumulating 10 points over the first nine games. He missed six games last season, during which the Oilers recorded a 1-4-1 record. Last season, he played a full 82-game schedule and was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy while finishing third in Hart Trophy voting with 100 assists and 132 points.