It's hard to think of a worse time for the injury bug to bite the Edmonton Oilers.

Already without Leon Draisaitl, the Oilers lost both Connor McDavid and Stuart Skinner to injury in the late stages of their 4-3 overtime loss to the Winnipeg Jets on Thursday.

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While none of Draisaitl, McDavid, or Skinner's injuries seem serious, they're also the three worst players for the Oilers to lose. Any team will struggle without their top two centers and starting goalie--the fact the Oilers came away with a point is a huge testament to the improvement of their depth players.

Player Grades

Jeff Skinner: A

While Skinner took a while to get going this season, he's getting hot at the best possible time. He scored the Oilers' first two goals on Thursday, his first two-goal game in just over a year--since his hat trick against Seattle on March 18, 2024, when he was with the Buffalo Sabres.

Though his second goal was a softie--it's still not clear whether he or Winnipeg's Nikolaj Ehlers was the last to touch the puck as it slid through Connor Hellebuyck's five-hole--his first was vintage Skinner, a clean rip over the shoulder of the best goalie in the league. Jeff Skinner is back.

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Zach Hyman: B+

Hyman has barely played a minute without Connor McDavid next to him this season. It's where he's earned his contract and scored 142 goals in an Oilers uniform.

He didn't need McDavid on Thursday, earning the Oilers a point with a classic Hyman net-front goal to tie the game late in the third period. He was one of Edmonton's best players all night, earning an expected goals share of 75.65% in addition to his 25th goal of the year.

Connor McDavid: DNF

No one's quite sure what McDavid's injury is. It appeared to happen late in the second period when he was very lightly clipped by Winnipeg's Josh Morrissey. To these eyes, it looked like a hand or wrist injury, though he seemed to be struggling with mobility on his final shift and was ruled out with a lower-body injury when he didn't come out for the third period.

Head coach Kris Knoblauch had no updates after the game, but McDavid was seen in the bowels of Rogers Place without any braces or crutches. Only time will tell the nature of McDavid's injury; the Oilers can only hope he doesn't miss any more time.

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