NHL Rumors: Former referee makes major Connor McDavid injury claim

Former NHL referee Tim Peel has recently made a significant claim regarding the health of Edmonton Oilers stars Connor McDavid and Zach Hyman.

In a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, Peel stated,

"Hearing Connor McDavid is dealing with an injury and Zach Hyman is banged up as well. Every team has injuries, but this will be a challenge for #LetsGoOilers if they are to beat the #Canucks," he said.

This rumor comes at a crucial time, as the Oilers prepare to face the Vancouver Canucks in a must-win Game 6 of their playoff series at Rogers Place in Edmonton on Saturday.

The Canucks have been successful in containing both McDavid and Hyman throughout the series. McDavid has been limited to one goal and five assists, with four of those points coming in a single game. The Canucks have strategically deployed J.T. Miller against McDavid, which has proven to be an effective tactic.

Similarly, Hyman, who scored an impressive 54 goals during the regular season and led the Stanley Cup Playoffs with seven goals coming into this series, has been kept off the scoresheet in the last three games. He hasn't found the back of the net since scoring two goals in the series opener.

Peel's claim has not yet been substantiated by other reports.

Connor McDavid's Edmonton Oilers vs. Vancouver Canucks: Game Preview

Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers face a critical Game 6 against the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday night. The Canucks currently hold a 3-2 lead in the second-round playoff series, having emerged victorious in Games 1, 3, and 5. Edmonton, on the other hand, secured wins in Games 2 and 4.

The Canucks will enter Game 6 with the intent to close out the series and advance to the Western Conference Final. They will look to carry the energy from their hard-fought 3-2 win in Game 5.

However, the Oilers have the advantage of playing in front of their home crowd at Rogers Place, where they will be desperate to force a Game 7 back in Vancouver.

Connor McDavid, the Oilers captain, reflected on the team's approach to Game 6, saying:

"We didn't win last year's Game 6, and we'll learn from that, I guess, I don't know. We have to be ready to go, that's what it is."

The oddsmakers favor the Oilers in this matchup, with Edmonton's moneyline set at -197, implying a 66.3% probability of victory. The Canucks, meanwhile, are the underdogs with odds of +163.

Both teams will have to contend with injuries to key players.

The Canucks will again be without goaltender Thatcher Demko, who is sidelined with a knee injury, and defenseman Tucker Poolman, who is out due to a head injury. For the Oilers, forward Adam Henrique is listed as questionable with an ankle injury.