Oilers players, understandably, were not too happy with how things played out. The main source of angst is around how the officials were able to make the ‘good goal’ on the ice when nobody was in a position to see the puck potentially crossing the line.

A McDavid exit would surely signal a remodel of the roster, and that could take years. Draisaitl is set to become an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2033. The team could contend with him as the centrepiece of the roster, but would the player want to stay? Would Bouchard?

The Edmonton Oilers face elimination Tuesday at home against the Anaheim Ducks after reaching the Stanley Cup final each of the last two years. Edmonton trails the best-of-seven first-round series three games to one.

Cutter Gauthier broke a tie off a rebound with 4:52 left and the Ducks beat Edmonton in Game 2 to even the first-round NHL playoffs series.

The Edmonton Oilers and the Anaheim Ducks meet Sunday in Anaheim, California, for Game 4 of their first-round playoff series. Puck drop is 9:30 p.m. ET.

For all they've accomplished, the Oilers always seem to be fighting against some sort of negative undercurrent.