Nugent-hopkins almost ready to make his return

Ryan Nugent-hopkins is another step closer to joining the Edmonton Oilers' stretch drive.

After skating by himself for most of the past week, the 28-year-old winger practised with the team for the first time Tuesday and could see a green light if things check out with the medical staff Wednesday.

“We'll see in the morning if he gets cleared by the doctors,” said head coach Dave Tippett. “If he does, he'll have a chance to play Wednesday night.”

Nugent-hopkins has been out for 13 days (four games) after taking a high hit from Thomas Chabot in Ottawa.

Tippett also met with Jujhar Khaira on Tuesday and said the 26-year-old centre is feeling fine after an unsettling sequence against the Montreal Canadiens.

Khaira took a hard hit from Alexander Romanov midway through the first period and couldn't keep his balance enough to make it to the bench without help. It's especially concerning given that he missed two games with a concussion in mid March after a fight in Calgary.

“I talked to him for a while and he's feeling good, he's feeling fine,” said Tippett.

Khaira came back and played 10 games in a row without incident after the initial concussion, but something about the Romanov hit obviously didn't agree with him.

“He says it's funny, he got hit and was just stunned a little bit, but today he fees absolutely normal,” said Tippett. “But they'll do some tests and make sure everything is all right.”

JOINING THE FIGHT

If he plays Wednesday, Nugent-hopkins will be stepping into one of the fiercest and hardest-hitting series the Oilers have played all year. Edmonton and Montreal battled like it was personal Monday, turning the intensity level as high as it can go in any game that doesn't involve a goalie fight.

It was a night that brought out the best in an Oilers team that had already been trending up. In a nasty, tight-checking physical playoff atmosphere, they didn't take a backward step all night.

“That was a good test for our team,” said Tippett, adding it's a very good sign that the Oilers showed the will and composure to get on the right side of things after a difficult start.

“Sometimes the game isn't going your way and you feel like you're chasing it a little bit and it's easy to drop off. I like the way our guys stuck with it and got better as the game went on.

“I wouldn't call it a statement game, but your group learns that if it competes hard enough it has a chance to win.”

The Oilers agree that Monday's game, and what they anticipate in Wednesday's rematch, is exactly what they need to prime themselves for whoever they meet in the first round.

“That was a playoff atmosphere right there,” said Kailer Yamamoto. “The more games we get like that, the more it's going to help us.

“Personally, I like it. It gets me more involved. I think it gets a lot of guys involved. Some guys get frustrated, but it's part of the game, you just have to deal with it and push through it.”

HARD MINUTES

What teams want in a young player is someone who doesn't shy away from the rough going. And as Jesse Puljujarvi's game evolves, the Oilers are seeing a player who actually enjoys getting his hands dirty.

“He competes,” said Tippett, who was very impressed with how Puljujarvi embraced Monday's hostility. “That's the thing about Jesse, he loves it. When he gets in those battles he competes harder than anyone does. For his size and his strength he does really well in those battles.