McDavid held off scoresheet through Edmonton's first 2 playoff games

Oilers captain Connor McDavid continues to fight the puck, and Edmonton's vaunted power play has yet to strike to start the NHL playoffs.

McDavid, the league's regular-season points leader, was held off the scoresheet a second straight game Wednesday at Rogers Place. He had four shots and went minus-2 in a 6-4 loss to the Anaheim Ducks.

He weathered an injury scare early in the second period to continue playing, but his giveaway later that period led to Anaheim's short-handed goal and a 4-2 lead.

Edmonton takes a 1-1 split to Anaheim after a 4-3 win in Game 1 in the best-of-seven series.

The Ducks host the Oilers on Friday in the first playoff game at the Honda Center since 2018. Game 4 is Sunday.

McDavid raced the puck into the offensive zone only to turn it over or be stripped of it several times in the first two games of the series.

"He's putting a lot of pressure on himself," said Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch.

"He wants the team to do well. He's a leader and usually when we have success, he's a big part of that. There've been stretches during the season that he hasn't been the best player, nights where he hasn't been outstanding.

"That doesn't happen very often, and I'm certain that he's going to find his game."

McDavid's lower right leg appeared to buckle when he collided early in the second period with teammate Mattias Ekholm, who was attempting to check Anaheim's Ian Moore.

He finished his shift in discomfort before heading to the bench and down the tunnel. The centre returned to test his ankle and resume play in the second period.

"I just rolled up on it a little bit. It's fine," McDavid said after the game.

His backhand toward the blue line was picked off by Anaheim's Alex Killorn, who dished to Ryan