EDMONTON — In a heartbreaking 3-2 loss to the Winnipeg Jets at Rogers Place on Saturday, Connor McDavid’s absence in the final minutes of the third period and overtime left fans with many questions.
During a rush up the ice, McDavid appeared to experience discomfort on his left side, prompting him to skate to the bench and remain there for the rest of the game.
McDavid, despite his early departure, managed to contribute two assists in the game, bringing his total to eight points (two goals and six assists) in five games for Edmonton (1-3-1).
Oilers coach Jay Woodcroft commented, “I haven’t had a chance to speak with McDavid or go back to the locker room yet, but I believe we will have more information tomorrow. From what I observed, it didn’t seem like a serious issue, perhaps just a muscular problem. We’ll have a clearer understanding [Sunday].”
Prior to the 3-on-3 overtime, McDavid briefly skated on the ice but ultimately remained on the bench for the duration of the overtime session.
The Jets’ Mark Scheifele secured the victory at 3:53 in overtime.
When asked about McDavid’s absence during the crucial overtime period, Jets defenseman Josh Morrissey stated, “We couldn’t help but notice; it’s quite the understatement. We were certainly looking out for him during 3-on-3 overtime, so his absence was definitely noticeable.”
McDavid logged a total of 20 minutes and 48 seconds of ice time, with only one shot on goal before leaving the game. During the first period, at 12:33, he was taken down by Morrissey, who subsequently received a two-minute minor penalty for holding.
“No, I think it was more about him experiencing something off during his play in the third period,” Woodcroft added. “That’s what it seemed like from the bench. However, I haven’t had a chance to rewatch it yet.”
