In the second period of game one against the Canucks, the Oilers suffered a potentially season altering injury when Leon Draisaitl was forced to leave the game. Tonight in game two, Draisaitl is a game time decision, and the Oilers are prepared to replace him in the lineup.
According to TSN's Ryan Rishaug, forward Sam Carrick will be taking warmups tonight and will remain ready to go if needed. Both Leon Draisaitl and Adam Henrique are game time decisions, and Carrick will enter the lineup if either can't go.
In practice for the last two days, Sam Gagner has taken line rushes in Draisaitl's spot on the second line. The fact the Oilers didn't replace Draisaitl's spot with a more permanent solution suggests that Gagner was just acting as a placeholder, and the Oilers are expecting Draisaitl to be able to play.
Oilers fans know that Leon Draisaitl is a machine in the playoffs, and will play through an injury if it's at all possible. A few years ago, Draisaitl played the best playoff hockey of his career with a high ankle sprain, barely moving around the ice but still finding a way to be an elite player. As long as Draisaitl's in the lineup, he and the Oilers will find a way to finally beat the Canucks for the first time this year.
