The Oilers and their fans are hoping for a deep playoff run, but the team is dealing with a tremendous amount of injuries right now, and Kris Knoblauch spoke on it. The sky seemed to come crashing down when the <a href='https://www.hockeylatest.com/nhl/injuries/edmonton-oilers-head-coach-kris-knoblauch-gives-a-crucial-update-regarding-connor-mcdavid-return-from-injury' class='lien_marqueur' target='_blank' rel='noopener'>Oilers lost both of their offensive stars</a>, Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid, in back-to-back games during a crucial playoff push. With home-ice advantage on the line, McDavid's ongoing absence, which would extend potentially all the way to three more weeks, adds still more doubt hanging in the balance as the playoffs loom. <div align='center' class='pl20 pr20'><blockquote class='twitter-tweet' data-lang='en'><a href='https://twitter.com/Sportsnet/status/1906768612184211477'> </a></blockquote></div> Even with the disappointments, though, Edmonton remains deeply in playoff contention. Draisaitl's return is a huge bonus, especially because he has now joined the 50-goal club for the fourth time in his career. And to top it off, the Oilers have one of the league's weakest remaining schedules. Though they still have tough battles with the Winnipeg Jets and division-leading Vegas Golden Knights, they also have three against the troubled San Jose Sharks, who are at the moment last in the league with 49 points, half as many as Vegas has. <h3>The Oilers need about six points or so to guarantee a playoff spot</h3> Those six potential points would all but guarantee Edmonton a playoff spot. But McDavid is not the only crucial missing piece. Top defenseman Mattias Ekholm has been out with illness or injury since mid-February, and starter Stuart Skinner keeps missing time after Dallas' Mikko Rantanen kneed <a href='https://www.hockeylatest.com/nhl-team/edmonton-oilers/oilers-receive-bad-injury-news-on-stuart-skinner-after-mikko-rantanen-knees-him-in-the-head' class='lien_marqueur' target='_blank' rel='noopener'>him in the head</a>. Head coach Kris Knoblauch spoke about these injuries. I think every team goes through injuries, some more than others, said head coach Kris Knoblauch. Last year, we were very fortunate what we went through was minimal. Right now, this is about as bad as it gets: Your two superstars out, possibly your best defenceman and then numerous other guys. But I think a worse-case scenario would be those guys aren't ready for playoffs. And I think we're very fortunate that none of those guys are remotely looking like - besides Evander (Kane, recovering from knee and hip surgeries) - I think everyone else will be (back) before the regular season's over. <div align='center' class='pl20 pr20'><blockquote class='twitter-tweet' data-lang='en'><a href='https://twitter.com/OADsBraydonW/status/1906084010557841764'> </a></blockquote></div> With all the mounting injuries, however, the Oilers believe they will be able to still roll strong come playoffs.