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The Edmonton Oilers’ hopes of returning to the Stanley Cup Final for a third straight year took a hit Tuesday.
The Oilers announced that Leon Draisaitl is expected to miss the remainder of the regular season with a lower-body injury. The team said he suffered the injury Sunday in the first period against the Nashville Predators.
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Edmonton Oilers center Leon Draisaitl (29) celebrates after scoring against Vegas Golden Knights goalie Adin Hill (33) during the third period of an NHL hockey game Sunday, March 8, 2026 in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
He will miss at least the final 14 games of the regular season, which ends April 16. The team did not say if it will miss time once the playoffs begin.
Draisaitl took a hit from the Predators’ Ozzy Wiesblatt and did not return. Edmonton ended up winning the game and placed third in the Pacific Division, one point behind the Vegas Golden Knights and two behind the Anaheim Ducks.
Edmonton was able to end Tuesday on a high note with a win over the San Jose Sharks, 5-3. The victory moved the Oilers into second place behind Anaheim and ahead of Las Vegas. However, the Oilers have played one more game than the Golden Knights and two more games than the Ducks.
Edmonton Oilers center Leon Draisaitl (29) scores against Vegas Golden Knights goalie Adin Hill (33) during the third period of an NHL hockey game Sunday, March 8, 2026 in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
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Adam Henrique assisted on goals by Vasily Podkolzin and Max Jones. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Connor Murphy and Zach Hyman also scored.
“That line was huge for us, and we talked before about the need for guys to step up,” Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch said after the win over the Sharks, via NHL.com. “No one is going to replace León. That’s never going to happen. But everyone collectively needs to be a little better. That fourth line, those three, were the difference tonight.”
Draisaitl has been a major contributor for the Oilers since joining the team. He ranks fourth in the league in scoring with 97 points in 65 games played, second on the team behind Connor McDavid, who leads the league with 114 points.
Edmonton Oilers’ Leon Draisaitl (29) controls the puck while under pressure from St. Louis Blues’ Philip Broberg (6) during the third period of an NHL hockey game on Friday, March 13, 2026 in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Scott Kane)
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Draisaitl won the Hart Trophy as league MVP in 2020 and was runner-up last season.
