- McDavid skipped morning skate Tuesday and is a game-time call for the Oilers’ must-win Game 5
- Dickinson also game-time, while Ingram takes the net back from Jarry
- Read below for the injury timeline, video, and what Knoblauch said about life without his captain
The Oilers face elimination Tuesday, and they may be doing it without their captain.
Connor McDavid is a game-time decision for Game 5 against the Anaheim Ducks at Rogers Place. Head coach Kris Knoblauch confirmed the news after Edmonton’s morning skate, where McDavid was nowhere to be found.
McDavid has been playing through an ankle issue since Game 2, when he got tangled with teammate Mattias Ekholm and Ducks rookie Ian Moore at the Edmonton blue line. He left briefly, came back the same period, and has dressed for every game in the series. His Game 4 minutes (19:32) were his lowest of the postseason.
Jason Dickinson is also a game-time call. He missed Games 2 and 3 with a lower-body issue but returned for the Game 4 overtime loss and picked up an assist.
Edmonton trails the best-of-7 series 3-1.
Here’s video of McDavid speaking to media after the Game 2 loss where he first hurt the ankle:
McDavid was named a Ted Lindsay Award finalist Tuesday morning after leading the league with 138 points in the regular season. He has one goal and four points across the four games of this series, well off his usual pace.
Knoblauch is not making excuses if his captain cannot go.
“Anytime you’re missing somebody, you need somebody stepping up,” Knoblauch said. “Not one guy is going to replace him, and we have some guys that are banged up and they’re continuing to play. Ultimately, everybody’s got to step it up a little bit.”
Connor Ingram gets the start in net, taking the crease back from Tristan Jarry after the Game 4 overtime loss. Puck drop is set for 10 p.m. ET on Sportsnet, CBC, and TNT.
