Connor McDavid is set to return to the rink sooner than anticipated, as the Edmonton Oilers announced he will be ready to take on the Las Vegas Golden Knights tonight.
The decision follows McDavid’s participation in line rushes during practice, with the team eager to see how he performed in Monday’s session before deciding whether to keep him sidelined or reinstate him in the lineup.
Last Wednesday, Oilers head coach Derek Knoblauch indicated that the team had avoided a worst-case scenario regarding McDavid’s injury, estimating he would miss only two to three weeks.
The injury occurred shortly after the opening faceoff in a game against the Columbus Blue Jackets, when McDavid was chasing a puck dumped into the offensive zone. He was tripped alongside the boards and fell awkwardly, ramming his left foot into the side board. McDavid managed to skate off the ice on his own but remained on the bench for several minutes before heading to the dressing room, having played just 37 seconds of the game.
Tonight, the Oilers will look for a win against the Golden Knights at Rogers Place, with puck drop scheduled for 6:30 p.m. This season, McDavid has recorded three goals and seven assists in 10 games for the reigning Western Conference champions. Prior to this injury, he had missed only eight games in the last four seasons.
