As the Edmonton Oilers gear up for their highly-anticipated matchup against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday night, Connor McDavid is set to play tonight.
McDavid, who suffered a collision with teammate Derek Ryan during Thursday's victory over the Boston Bruins, immediately grabbed at his left leg and appeared to be in pain. However, he managed to make it to the bench on his own and helped his team secure a 3-2 win.
The Oilers have yet to release an official statement on Connor McDavid's status for Saturday's game, leaving fans and analysts alike wondering whether or not the NHL's leading scorer will take the ice against the Maple Leafs.
The Oilers will want to make sure that McDavid is fully healthy and ready to go before putting him back on the ice, especially given the team's playoff aspirations. If he is cleared to play, there's no doubt that the NHL's most dominant player will be looking to add to his already-impressive season stats and lead his team to victory.
He was seen on the ice during a practice session in Toronto and looked like his usual self. The Toronto Maple Leafs will be looking to control him tonight as he is on a tear against all teams and is projected to have the best season in his eight-year career.
Homecoming for Connor McDavid
Connor McDavid, the superstar captain of the Edmonton Oilers, is gearing up for his highly-anticipated homecoming in Toronto. McDavid, who hails from Richmond Hill, Ontario, is set to take on the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday night in what promises to be a thrilling matchup between two of the NHL's top teams.
Speaking after practice in Toronto, McDavid shared his excitement for the game, saying,
"Yeah, it's always a little bit special. Especially since it's Saturday night. They always have us playing on a Monday or a Wednesday here or something like that, but it's fun that it's on a Saturday."
Despite the hype surrounding his return to his hometown, McDavid admitted that he doesn't have much planned for the occasion.
"Yeah, you know what? I don't have a ton going on," he said. "Most of my family has kind of moved away, and I got buddies that are kind of out and abroad, so not a ton going for me. My brother's away as well, so not a lot of people circled it on their calendar I guess," he joked.
Connor McDavid is no stranger to success on the ice, having already set career highs for goals and points this season. He knows that success against the Leafs won't come easy.
"When we're playing the right way, when we're doing the right things, when we're dialed into our details, we can play with anyone," he said. "And that's the mindset we have to have to go into this game."
As McDavid prepares to take on his hometown team, fans and analysts alike are eagerly anticipating what promises to be a thrilling matchup between two of the NHL's top talents. But for Connor McDavid, the focus remains squarely on the game and helping his team secure a crucial victory.