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 league91裸聊视频檚 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 McDavid91裸聊视频檚 status as 91裸聊视频渄ay-to-day.91裸聊视频�

The coach said McDavid91裸聊视频檚 absence at practice was due to a combination of 91裸聊视频渓ower body91裸聊视频� and 91裸聊视频渕aintenance91裸聊视频� issues.

McDavid entered Tuesday91裸聊视频檚 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 season91裸聊视频檚 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 it91裸聊视频檚 advantage Edmonton.

But the Oilers91裸聊视频� decision to be cautious with McDavid proves that the team91裸聊视频檚 brain trust is more focused on being in the best possible shape for the post-season than winning the division title.

91裸聊视频淭he most important thing is playoffs, that we are ready,91裸聊视频� Knoblauch said. 91裸聊视频淚 think we91裸聊视频檝e got depth. You91裸聊视频檙e never going to replace Connor, but we91裸聊视频檝e got healthy bodies.

91裸聊视频淲e want to make sure everyone is healthy as much as possible going into the playoffs.91裸聊视频�

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 Wednesday91裸聊视频檚 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 he91裸聊视频檚 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 91裸聊视频� the team is coming off an impressive win over Colorado and a victory in Calgary 91裸聊视频� they would win the division simply as a byproduct of getting hot at the right time.

91裸聊视频淚 think they91裸聊视频檒l go hand-in-hand,91裸聊视频� Hyman said. 91裸聊视频淥bviously, there91裸聊视频檚 things we91裸聊视频檒l change depending on the standings and whatnot. But we want to win the division if we can. I think it91裸聊视频檚 pretty attainable right now.

91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 always good to have something to play for down the stretch. You want to keep that competitive fire. It91裸聊视频檚 always important to go into the playoffs playing your best.

91裸聊视频淭hese last six games, even if it91裸聊视频檚 in a short window, we have to plan to play like we will in the playoffs.91裸聊视频�

Leon Draisaitl, who has 102 points this season, said there91裸聊视频檚 91裸聊视频渇ine line91裸聊视频� 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.

91裸聊视频淵ou definitely don91裸聊视频檛 want to get yourself tired for the start of playoffs,91裸聊视频� he said.

91裸聊视频�(The division title) is certainly worth it. But, again, there91裸聊视频檚 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 don91裸聊视频檛 need to exhaust anybody going into Game 1.91裸聊视频�

Draisaitl noted that, no matter who finishes first, there are no easy first-round match-ups in the West. Whether it91裸聊视频檚 the Nashville Predators, the Los Angeles Kings or the defending Stanley Cup champs from Vegas, it91裸聊视频檚 a matter of pick your poison.

91裸聊视频淵ou91裸聊视频檙e not going to get a team that91裸聊视频檚 not good. So, it91裸聊视频檚 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.91裸聊视频�

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