McDavid expected to play despite flu bug
ST. LOUIS Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid didn’t take part in their Monday morning skate because he’s been battling the flu since last week, when he also missed a Friday practice before the team flew to Dallas to start their five-game road trip.
McDavid, who notched a goal and two assists for the Oilers against the Stars in their 6-3 loss even while under the weather, will likely play against the Blues Tuesday. But he was back at the team hotel resting up while Brad Malone was the placeholder at practice on the No. 1 line with Drake Caggiula and Patrick Maroon at the hourlong session in suburban St. Louis.
“When Connor’s healthy, he’ll be back practising with us,” said Oilers coach Todd McLellan.
While McDavid was absent, right-winger Anton Slepyshev, on injured reserve with a groin injury, skated and so did Andrej Sekera, who is a few weeks away from playing his first game after knee surgery six months ago.
“Slep won’t play against St. Louis but could in the game after that … where are we? Detroit on Wednesday?” said McLellan, who said Sekera is nowhere close to game action, even if he’s taking part in physical contact. Sekera had surgery May 13 and was supposed to be out six to nine months. Nov. 13 marked the six-month point.
“When the calendar changes and we get to December, then we’ll be talking about when Sekera might play,” said McLellan.
At Monday’s skate, defenceman Yohann Auvitu left early after getting a deflected puck in the face. A shot came off goalie Laurent Brossoit’s stick and caught the No. 7 blueliner Auvitu just outside the crease. He was bleeding heavily and sustained damage to his teeth.
BOUWMEESTER RETURNS
Blues defenceman Jay Bouwmeester was a full participant in practice Monday and will get his first game of the season against his hometown Oilers, teaming up with second-pairing defenceman Colton Parayko.
Carl Gunnarsson will come out. Bouwmeester, who has played 1,071 NHL games since breaking in as an 18-year-old, has been out since the third day of training camp, when he was hit by a puck and suffered a fractured ankle.
“It was good to get on that road trip out west and skate,” said Bouwmeester, 34, watching the Blues’ 4-1 win. “It’s been a long time, especially at the start of the year when you miss training camp. I’ll just jump in and try not to interfere with what’s going on here.”
This is Bouwmeester’s 15th NHL season and sixth with the Blues.
LUCIC FOCUSED ON WINS
Oilers winger Milan Lucic won’t be looking for a pound of flesh from Parayko, who caught him with a hip/knee late in the Blues’ win, which angered Lucic enough to start punching the St. Albert native. He didn’t respond in kind and Lucic got a misconduct after there was no penalty to Parayko.
“The hit didn’t feel good. I was in some kind of pain and you always have it in the back of your mind (to get your licks in later),” said Lucic. “But right now, we’re at a state where winning games is most important.
“Any thought of getting even, at this time of the season with how things are going, would be selfish. But there’s also ways to do it without crossing the line. Play him hard, go after him all game.”
THIS ’N’ THAT
Blues’ centre Patrik Berglund, who had shoulder surgery months ago, also skated Monday but won’t play against the Oilers … Oilers prospect Tyler Benson now has six goals and 15 points in 10 games for the junior Vancouver Giants, and the Oilers expect he’ll be invited to Canada’s world junior team selection camp next month … Winger Kailer Yamamoto has a goal and five points for his Spokane junior team after the Oilers sent him back.