GLENDALE, Ariz. — Every day is turning into a medical report for the ailing Edmonton Oilers, who have lost a league-high 328 man-games to injuries this season.

So when centre Sam Gagner says he has a bad left knee and is flying home to get an MRI, it turns into shrugs all around for the struggling NHL team, last in the league with 42 points.

Gagner, the hottest forward on the Oilers with 14 points in his last 17 games, might have a meniscus tear (cartilage). The team has yet to find any definitive answers through several exams. The knee is painful, and doesn’t feel right, which is why he came out after just 11 shifts and 9:37 of ice time against the Colorado Avalanche in Denver Saturday night.

Gagner’s injury is just more bad news for a team that can’t win and can’t stay healthy. Only three players — Dustin Penner, Andrew Cogliano and Tom Gilbert — have suited for all 58 games in 2009-10.

“I hurt it in the game (Jan. 22, Dallas Stars) before the skills contest,” said Gagner, who hasn’t been slowed down statistically, with points in five of the last seven games. “It’s been getting progressively more sore and I tweaked it a couple of times in Denver.

“If there’s nothing structurally wrong, and it won’t get any worse, maybe I can rejoin the team in Anaheim (Wednesday). If not, I’ll get it taken care of.”

Gagner, second in scoring for the Oilers with 14 goals and 35 points, said he had trouble with his right knee when he was 16, a meniscus problem. He had the tear repaired and missed four weeks.

“I haven’t had any trouble since then with that knee. This feels a little different. The other one was lateral and this one is medial. The cutting (on the ice) is harder this time,” said Gagner.

“Our medical staff hasn’t necessarily found anything indicative to what’s going on, so that’s why he’s going back for another MRI. Apparently Sam had a problem with the other knee before and it took three MRIs to find it,” said Oilers head coach Pat Quinn.

“With a team that has trouble scoring, we’ll certainly miss him,” said Quinn. “He started the season slowly but he’s picked up the pace. He has been going to a point-a-game clip. It’s part of Sam’s growing, trying to become more consistent and take advantage of his skill.”

With Gagner absent, Marc Pouliot drew into the first-line centre spot against the Phoenix Coyotes on Monday, between Penner and Robert Nilsson, who was back in the lineup after sitting out three in a row.

“To get a good evaluation, he (Pouliot) needs some games. He’s not a banger, but he’s got some size and goes around where the puck is and we need more of that,” said Quinn.

Edmonton Journal

jmatheson@thejournal.canwest.com