Sportsnet is reporting that Edmonton Oilers star Leon Draisaitl will likely be a game-time determination Friday when the Oilers tackle the Vancouver Canucks in Sport 2 of their second-round collection. The report comes someday after Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch advised the media that Draisaitl was day-to-day after he’d missed observe. The 28-year-old left midway via Sport 1 however finally returned for the third interval within the Oilers’ 5-4 loss. After the sport, Knoblauch advised reporters that Draisaitl had been coping with tools points and cramping that brought about him to overlook vital time.
The Cologne, Germany native is as soon as once more enjoying dominant hockey within the playoffs and his harm comes at a time when the Oilers haven’t been in a position to generate a lot offense at even energy. Draisaitl has 5 targets and 7 assists in six playoff video games up to now and has carried the scoring for the Oilers alongside Connor McDavid, Zach Hyman and Evan Bouchard.
Draisaitl will take the warm-up with the Oilers and a choice will likely be made afterward on whether or not he can play. Some pundits have speculated that he suffered an harm when he took a shot to the again from Canucks defenseman Tyler Myers. The hit didn’t seem like a lot as Draisaitl might preserve possession of the puck, nevertheless it might have him in a spot the place he didn’t have padding.
It’s not the primary time he’s handled well being points within the playoffs. Two years in the past, Draisaitl performed via a high-ankle sprain that he suffered within the first spherical. He continued to play via the ache and was dominant offensively, though his defensive recreation fell off as he struggled to maintain up with the play within the defensive zone.