McDavid injured, Oilers pounded in nightmare visit to Columbus
Published Oct 28, 2024 • Last updated 4 hours ago • 2 minute read
Talk about things going from bad to worse in a hurry.
Monday night went so badly so quickly for the Edmonton Oilers on Monday it was like a plane crash BEFORE takeoff.
Just when it looked like things might finally be going their way after back-to-back wins over Pittsburgh and Detroit lifted them to .500, the Oilers took a double-barrelled shot in the mouth Monday in Columbus.
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Not only did they get bombed 6-1 by the Blue Jackets, but that turned out to be the least of their worries on a night when Connor McDavid got injured on his first shift of the game.
The game crashed into the mountain almost instantly, with McDavid getting tripped up at high speed by Zach Werenski as he entered the Columbus zone. He fell awkwardly, slid into the corner and then glided back to the Edmonton bench favouring his left leg.
And that was it. One shift, 37 seconds. Within minutes, the Oilers sent out a media release saying the captain would not be returning to the game but provided no details on the injury or his availability moving forward. Head coach Kris Knoblauch did say after the game that McDavid is flying back to Edmonton and will miss the last game (Nashville) of their road trip, at least
The rest of the night was downhill from there. McDavid’s injury seemed to suck the life right out of the Oilers, who gave up goals at 2:18, 10:44 and 14:32 and found themselves trailing 3-0 at the first intermission on six Columbus shots.
Everything that had been plaguing them in their slow start this year reared it ugly head again in this one as the Blue Jackets tore at the bewildered Oilers until there was nothing left.
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• The worst penalty kill in the NHL lived up to its reputation. The Blue Jackets needed just 48 seconds into their first man advantage of the game to make it 1-0. It is the 11th power-play goal against in 10 games.
• Add another bad start to the growing list. The 3-0 Columbus lead after 20 minutes makes it 10-3 for Edmonton’s opponents in the first period this season.
• The power play whiffed on its chance to get the Oilers back in the game. They were 0-2 on the power play in the first period (and 1-for-6 on the night), failing to score on a 40-second two-man advantage and then wiping out the rest of the power play with an offensive zone holding penalty of their own.
• Edmonton’s woeful offence came 27 seconds away from being shut out for the second time in 10 games. Mattias Ekholm’s power play goal in garbage time gives them 22 goals in 10 games.
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