GAME REVIEW: Blue Jackets 6, Oilers 1

COLUMBUS, OH — The Oilers lost by more than the score on Monday night at Nationwide Arena, falling 6-1 to the Blue Jackets and suffering their fourth straight loss in Columbus while missing Connor McDavid early in the first period with a lower-body injury.

Mattias Ekholm broke the shutout in the final minute on the power play, but the Blue Jackets scored six straight goals after the Oilers captain left early in the first frame with a lower-body injury sustained in a fall toward the boards had left the game due to a missed tripping penalty during the opening shift.

“He’s going back to Edmonton to get checked out,” head coach Kris Knoblauch said. “I’ll have (an update) later tomorrow.”

Center Sean Monahan scored two goals for the Blue Jackets, and Cole Sillinger (1G, 2A), Adam Fantilli (1G, 1A) and Kirill Marchenko (2A) all finished with multiple points in their appearances. Striker Mikael Pyhhtia also scored his first NHL goal.

Ekholm extended his point streak to three games (1G, 4A) with the late power play marker, while Corey Perry and Darnell Nurse got the assists. Goaltender Stuart Skinner stopped 19 of 25 shots in the loss, lowering Edmonton's overall record to 4-5-1.

The Oilers have not beaten the Blue Jackets on the road since November 30, 2019, losing by a 21-10 goal margin in their last four visits to Columbus and conceding six goals on two separate occasions.

The Oilers have two days to determine their captain's status before returning to Bridgestone Arena to face the Nashville Predators on Thursday.

“With Stan (Bowman) here, we have discussed it and will make the decision either tonight or tomorrow on who will replace him,” Knoblauch said.