Oilers get Ryan Nugent-Hopkins update from Mike Babcock after broken jaw scare

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins left Saturday's game against Vancouver 45 seconds into the second period after a puck hit the side of his head, and Oilers coach Mike Babcock doesn't expect him to miss much time.

The puck came off an attempted shoot-in by teammate Ryan Shea.

Nugent-Hopkins left the ice immediately and did not return to the 4-2 Oilers win at Rogers Place.

A broken jaw was the first worry, Babcock explained, and the medical staff assessed it right away.

More checks are expected Sunday, but he saw the forward in the hallway afterward and said he seemed to be doing fine.

No formal diagnosis had been reported at the time of writing.

Nugent-Hopkins, 33, has only just found his rhythm.

He missed the first nine games with a lower-body injury, returned Oct. 22 against Carolina, and has 11 points in nine games.

On Tuesday he also passed the franchise record for games played, appearing in his 1,038th.

Selected first overall in 2011, he is in his 16th season with 815 points in 1,040 games.

Edmonton has some cushion. The win ended a two-game winless stretch, the Oilers are 12-3-3, and Connor McDavid extended his season-opening point streak to 18 games with three assists.

Leon Draisaitl scored twice, while Zach Hyman and goalie Devon Levi also returned from injuries in the same game, so the lineup is getting healthier even as one more name hangs in the balance.

For a veteran who has already lost time this season, a quick return would be a welcome change of luck for both player and team.

Also read on House Of Hockey :
Embarrassing scenes at Scotiabank Arena involving Maple Leafs fans