NHL’s leading goal scorer Leon Draisaitl coming back in for Oilers

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For the Edmonton Oilers, something may start to go straight.

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With league-leading goalkeeper Leon Draisaitl returning to the roster as early as Saturday’s Alberta campaign to compete with the stubborn Calgary Flames for playoff life, the Oilers will get any and all the help in the lawsuit.

Especially considering how all wheels fall off the momentum machine at the worst time.

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As the Oilers compete for a position in the Pacific Division in the playoff extension and the most important family ice advantage hanging in balance, four key pieces have begun to fall like dominoes over the past two weeks.

Draisaitl, the first popular tire, had undisclosed injuries undisclosed during the garbage time of a 7-1 win over the visiting Utah Hockey Club, stretching his career-high individual points streak to 19 seasons on his fourth attempt and scoring 50 goals this season.

“It’s a little weird. I think it pops up or catches right away and you’ll see my discomfort,” Draisaitl said after a Saturday morning skating. “This is where I am, where the game is, it’s a 5-0 game.

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“Maybe if it was a tense game, I might not have the pressure, I might quit. It feels good now. It’s important.”

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The only thing worse is seeing Connor McDavid fall down, which is what happened in the next game, with a lower body injury that might even see him missing out on four road trips Tuesday starting Tuesday.

Then, their top defensive defensive player Mattias Ekholm resumed the game. Missed six games before returning to Utah, where he scored goals and five assists in four games before rejoining the growing list of injured oilmen.

Stuart Skinner watched their starting goalkeeper fall in the pile after a collision in the crease Wednesday when Dallas forward Mikko Rantanen clamped him to his helmet while skating.

All that’s left is to let the oil man spin the tires and hope to get some kind of traction in the form of someone who returns at some point. They sat in second place in the Pacific Division from the Los Angeles Kings’ three-point mat, then injured and then third, two points behind the Kings before Saturday’s Alberta campaign at Rogers Place.

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“We’re not grabbing anything, we still have a way to go here. We have to win some hockey games and dial a little in our game,” Draisaitl said. “Of course, we want to finish second. Obviously, we want to finish the game first, but I think it’s a little out of reach (the Vegas Golden Knights ended with a 100-point run).

“It’s important to be second, and of course, family ice is good for the seventh game. But last year we weren’t on the three rounds of the home ice, we found a way to make each series and somehow successfully make each series.”

Before the fall, Draisaitl was in neck and neck form with Colorado Avalanche forward Nathan Mackinnon in the overall game, who continued to extend the lead to seven points in the absence of Draisaitl.

But the Oilers Center continues to be shackled on goals and scores this season, still leading seven ahead of Toronto Maple Leafs forward William Nylander until Saturday.

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“Absolutely, this is special,” Draisaitl said of the prospect of adding Maurice’Rocket’ Richard Trophy to his NHL hardware collection. “I grew up because of course not a goal scorer, I’ve always been a passer and worked a lot in that part of the game.

“To make this shine (even after an injury) obviously means a lot to me, I’m very excited about it whenever (the 50th goal) happens.”

Draisaitl hopes he won’t have to get injured in the playoffs until this time, which is no stranger, and the worst situation is behind him now.

“If it were in due time, I would play anything,” he said. “Unfortunately, this has happened for the last two playoffs, but I don’t think it’s tinkering with something like that when you look at the big picture.

“Everything will always be a little bit of pain.

Email: godejong@postmedia.com

On Twitter: @gerrymoddejonge

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