Oilers struggle in playoff push without Draisaitl

The Edmonton Oilers announced that superstar Leon Draisaitl is expected to miss the remainder of the regular season due to a lower-body injury. Draisaitl suffered the injury during the first period against the Nashville Predators on Sunday, playing only 3:12 of ice time but still managing to score a goal.

His absence is particularly impactful as the Oilers are in a playoff race, currently sitting third in the Pacific Division with 75 points and a 33-26-9 record. The team has lost two of their last three games and has a 5-7-1 record since January 31, marking the fourth-worst points percentage in that timeframe.

Edmonton is just two points off the division-leading Anaheim Ducks but also only four points ahead of falling out of a playoff spot, with the Seattle Kraken and Los Angeles Kings both at 71 points. The Oilers face a challenging remaining schedule, including games against the Colorado Avalanche, Tampa Bay Lightning, Ducks, Kraken, and Kings.

They must improve their performance to maintain their playoff positioning, as they have the seventh-easiest strength of schedule left, compared to tougher opponents like the Kings, who have the easiest schedule.

The uncertainty surrounding Draisaitl’s playoff status adds to the urgency for the Oilers as they push for a postseason berth.