Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid will be out 2-3 weeks due to an ankle injury suffered during Monday night’s 6-1 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets.

The center started the game and won the opening face-off, but lasted just 37 seconds after he was tripped by Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski while trying to enter the offensive zone, falling into the right boards. After the game, coach Kris Knoblauch said McDavid would be returning to Edmonton for further evaluation.

Knoblauch said: “It’s tough any time you are playing without your best player, but it’s something that’s hopefully short term. Obviously, our team is going to look different. Maybe that’s one, two games.”

Oilers forward Ryan Nugent-Hopkins said after the game: “He’s our leader and also the best player in the game. So, of course you’re going to feel it. We’ve got to do a better job of stepping up when a guy like that goes down. It’s your captain, your best player. It should be an opportunity for guys to step up and say, ‘Oh, I’ve got this. It’s more ice time, more opportunities.”

McDavid has 10 points (three goals, seven assists) in 10 games this season; last season, he was third in the NHL with 132 points (32 goals, 100 assists) in 76 games.

The Oilers face the Nashville Predators on Thursday and the Calgary Flames on Sunday, with their next home game against the New Jersey Devils on Monday.

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