Connor McDavid is in the lineup for the Edmonton Oilers in Game 5 of their first-round Western Conference playoff series against the Anaheim Ducks on Tuesday night.
The Oilers face elimination trailing the Ducks 3-1 in this best-of-seven series. Edmonton's captain was absent from the team's morning skate earlier Tuesday, after which coach Kris Knoblauch confirmed McDavid's uncertain status for the evening game.
"Any time you're missing someone, you need someone stepping up," Knoblauch said. "We do have some guys who are banged up, and they continue to play and do the best they can do. Ultimately, everyone has to step it up a little bit. Playoffs are a tough time to play. It's tight checking, there's not much room. ... Right now, we need those guys who are healthy to pick up the slack for the guys who can't play like they want to."
Oilers forward Jason Dickinson -- who missed Games 2 and 3 of the series with a lower-body injury but returned for Game 4 -- also missed the morning workout but ultimately returned to the lineup as well.
It's not clear exactly what held McDavid out Tuesday morning. He previously skipped the team's practice prior to Game 4 on Sunday but still suited up to play 19:32 and notched two assists in the Oilers 4-3 overtime loss. The only prior inkling that something was amiss with McDavid came about in Game 2 when an awkward collision with teammate Mattias Ekholm sent the center back to the dressing room with a lower-body issue. He came back quickly and ended the game with over 24 minutes of ice time.
