Edmonton Oilers Face Nashville Predators Without Connor McDavid Due to Ankle Injury

The Edmonton Oilers are set to face the Nashville Predators on Thursday, October 31, at Bridgestone Arena, but they will be without their star captain, Connor McDavid, who suffered an ankle injury in their previous game. McDavid is expected to be out for the next two to three weeks, which is a significant blow to the team.

In McDavid’s absence, the Oilers have made several adjustments to their lineup. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins will move from left wing to center on the top line, while Jeff Skinner, promoted from the third line, will take Nugent-Hopkins’ place on the wing. The second line will remain intact, with Leon Draisaitl at center, flanked by Podkolzin and Arvidsson. The team has also recalled forwards Drake Caggiula and Noah Philp from Bakersfield of the American Hockey League, with Philp expected to make his NHL debut.

The game is anticipated to be a low-scoring affair, given the recent trends of both teams. The Oilers and Predators have the worst team shooting percentages at five-on-five, scoring just 1.69 and 1.62 goals per 60 minutes, respectively. Both teams have struggled with offensive chemistry, and their recent games have predominantly gone under the total goals predicted.

Nashville, too, is facing its own challenges, particularly with their new acquisitions Steven Stamkos and Jonathan Marchessault, who have yet to find the back of the net at 5-on-5. The Predators’ netminder, Juuse Saros, and the Oilers’ goalie, Stuart Skinner, have both seen their save percentages dip below their career averages, adding to the expectation of a defensive battle.

The game will be broadcast on TSN2 and can also be streamed on ESPN+. The odds favor the Predators slightly, with a moneyline of -130 for Nashville and +110 for Edmonton.