Kris Knoblauch just revealed the real reason behind the Edmonton Oilers trouble in the last few games

Kris Knoblauch revealed during a media scrum ahead of tonight's game against the Chicago Blackhawks that the team is dealing with an illness outbreak affecting multiple players.

Knoblauch said that the illness has been around for some time which could explain the team's recent inconsistency.

Despite this, the Oilers have managed a 6-3-1 record over their last 10 games and they are maintaining their lead atop the Pacific Division with a two-point lead over the Vegas Golden Knights.

Their +30 goal differential remains the best in the division and is showing their resilience even while having health issues.

To adapt to the situation and even spark a more balanced offense, Kris Knoblauch confirmed that Leon Draisaitl will be separated from Connor McDavid tonight.

This strategic change aim to spread scoring threats across multiple lines against a rebuilding Blackhawks team that might struggle to handle Edmonton's offensive depth.

Tonight's game at the United Center will be the Oilers' last matchup before the two-week break for the Four Nations Faceoff tournament.

The break comes at a perfect time for Edmontonand will give players a chance to recover from illness and minor injuries ahead of the last season stretch.

With a division lead in hand and time to heal on the horizon, the Oilers are in a solid position to regain full their strength after the break.

As Knoblauch and his squad try top navigate with the illness and lineup changes, fans can remain optimistic about the Oilers' playoff potential.