The race for top spot in the Pacific Division could come down to the final day of the NHL season. But it could be impacted by an injury to the leagueB次元官网网址檚 reigning most valuable player.

Connor McDavid did not practice Tuesday, and coach Kris Knoblauch said he would consult with the centre on Wednesday, ahead of the home date against the Vegas Golden Knights. The coach listed McDavidB次元官网网址檚 status as B次元官网网址渄ay-to-day.B次元官网网址�

The coach said McDavidB次元官网网址檚 absence at practice was due to a combination of B次元官网网址渓ower bodyB次元官网网址� and B次元官网网址渕aintenanceB次元官网网址� issues.

McDavid entered TuesdayB次元官网网址檚 NHL action third in scoring with 130 points, including a league-high 99 assists.

The Vancouver Canucks are five points ahead of the Edmonton Oilers for top spot in the Pacific Division. But, even though there are less than two weeks left in the NHL regular season, that lead is far from insurmountable.

The Oilers have six games left, the Canucks have just four. And the two teams will face each other one more time this season, at Rogers Place in Edmonton. So, even though the Oilers have points to make up, they enter the seasonB次元官网网址檚 final stretch knowing that they are in control of their destiny when it comes to the title.

Win the two games in hand, beat the Canucks, and itB次元官网网址檚 advantage Edmonton.

But the OilersB次元官网网址� decision to be cautious with McDavid proves that the teamB次元官网网址檚 brain trust is more focused on being in the best possible shape for the post-season than winning the division title.

B次元官网网址淭he most important thing is playoffs, that we are ready,B次元官网网址� Knoblauch said. B次元官网网址淚 think weB次元官网网址檝e got depth. YouB次元官网网址檙e never going to replace Connor, but weB次元官网网址檝e got healthy bodies.

B次元官网网址淲e want to make sure everyone is healthy as much as possible going into the playoffs.B次元官网网址�

The Oilers have had multiple games in hand on most of their close rivals for the majority of the season and will finally make it up down the stretch. The team finishes with six games in nine days. After WednesdayB次元官网网址檚 game with Vegas, the Oilers host Arizona Friday and the Canucks on Saturday, a game that could have a huge bearing on the Pacific Division title.

The Oilers players understand the balance between wanting to win the division and making sure the team is fresh for the post-season. But 52-goal-scorer Zach Hyman said heB次元官网网址檚 seen plenty of teams get on a streak before the playoffs then carry it over into the post-season.

If the Oilers follow that pattern B次元官网网址� the team is coming off an impressive win over Colorado and a victory in Calgary B次元官网网址� they would win the division simply as a byproduct of getting hot at the right time.

B次元官网网址淚 think theyB次元官网网址檒l go hand-in-hand,B次元官网网址� Hyman said. B次元官网网址淥bviously, thereB次元官网网址檚 things weB次元官网网址檒l change depending on the standings and whatnot. But we want to win the division if we can. I think itB次元官网网址檚 pretty attainable right now.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 always good to have something to play for down the stretch. You want to keep that competitive fire. ItB次元官网网址檚 always important to go into the playoffs playing your best.

B次元官网网址淭hese last six games, even if itB次元官网网址檚 in a short window, we have to plan to play like we will in the playoffs.B次元官网网址�

Leon Draisaitl, who has 102 points this season, said thereB次元官网网址檚 B次元官网网址渇ine lineB次元官网网址� between going full-bore for the Pacific crown and making sure the team is close to 100 per cent for the first series of the post-season.

B次元官网网址淵ou definitely donB次元官网网址檛 want to get yourself tired for the start of playoffs,B次元官网网址� he said.

B次元官网网址�(The division title) is certainly worth it. But, again, thereB次元官网网址檚 a fine line. We want to continue putting up points and continue to win and give ourselves a chance at winning the division. That being said, you donB次元官网网址檛 need to exhaust anybody going into Game 1.B次元官网网址�

Draisaitl noted that, no matter who finishes first, there are no easy first-round match-ups in the West. Whether itB次元官网网址檚 the Nashville Predators, the Los Angeles Kings or the defending Stanley Cup champs from Vegas, itB次元官网网址檚 a matter of pick your poison.

B次元官网网址淵ouB次元官网网址檙e not going to get a team thatB次元官网网址檚 not good. So, itB次元官网网址檚 just a balance of continuing to sharpen up our details, have good habits down the stretch, and make sure we carry that into the playoffs.B次元官网网址�

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