{allcanada} Oilers star McDavid skates just days after ankle injury

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Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid was back on the ice Thursday, one day after being given a two-to-three timeline for his ankle injury. 

TSN Hockey Insider Chris Johnston reports there is early optimism that McDavid could be back sooner than the initial estimate. 

"On Thursday morning, Connor McDavid did put on the skates just to test things out with that ankle injury," Johnston explained on Insider Trading. "I had a chance to speak to his agent, Judd Moldaver from Wasserman. He basically said, 'look, things are pretty encouraging here.' I mean, there was some real concern, obviously, when McDavid left the game earlier this week, flew home, went through the battery of tests he did. And you get that two-to-three week timeline. But you know, at this point they're going to have to take things day-by-day, make sure he has no setbacks.

"But this is a player that's come back ahead of schedule before and I won't offer any predictions at this point - but certainly all signs are pointing to him getting up and running here again as soon as possible."

Leon Draisaitl led the Oilers to a 5-1 win over the Nashville Predators on Thursday without McDavid, but an early return would be welcome with a congested schedule ahead.

McDavid's injury occurred during the opening shift of Monday's 6-1 loss to Columbus as McDavid was battling for the puck in the offensive zone. Blue Jackets defenceman Zach Werenski appeared to trip McDavid, who went tumbling into the boards. No penalty was called on the play. The Oilers' captain attempted to remain in the play, but eventually skated to the bench under his own power and did not take another shift.

McDavid has three goals and seven assists in 10 games with the Oilers this season. The 25-year-old forward had 32 goals and 132 points in 76 games last season, having also missed time early in the campaign with a lower-body injury. 

The Richmond Hill, Ont. native has topped the 100-point mark in seven of the past eight seasons, winning the Art Ross Trophy as the league's points leader on five occasions. he is also a three-time Hart Trophy winner, the 2023 Rocket Richard winner and was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy this past spring.

"He's our leader and also the best player in the game," Oilers forward Ryan Nugent-Hopkins said of McDavid Monday. "So, of course you're going to feel it. We've got to do a better job of stepping up when a guy like that goes down."

The Oilers improved to 5-5-1 on the early season with Thursday's win and will visit the Calgary Flames on Saturday.

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{allcanada} Whitecaps fall to Real Salt Lake in finale, will play Timbers in play-in match

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VANCOUVER — The Vancouver Whitecaps will begin their post-season campaign with a play-in game against the Timbers in Portland on Wednesday.

The 'Caps (13-13-8) ended the regular season with a 2-1 loss to Real Salt Lake on Saturday and finished eighth in Major League Soccer's Western Conference standings.

The eighth and ninth spots from each conference meet in a play-in game this week, with the winner going on to face the No. 1 seed in the first round of the playoffs.

Each eighth-place team was set to host the play-in game, but Vancouver announced Friday that its home stadium, B.C. Place, is not available, so the club will cede home-field advantage to Portland (12-11-11), the ninth-place team.

The 'Caps and Timbers split their three-game series during regular-season play, with each side taking a win, a loss and a draw.

The first round of the MLS playoffs is set to begin next weekend.

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{allcanada} Woll close to returning for Maple Leafs

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Joseph Woll is nearing a return but did not play for the Maple Leafs in their 4-1 loss to the New York Rangers at Scotiabank Arena on Saturday.

The goalie, who has missed each of Toronto's first five games (3-2-0), was not on the ice for the morning skate Saturday but was a full participant in practice Friday for the first time since Oct. 8 because of a lower-body injury.

"[Woll looked] good," Toronto coach Craig Berube said Friday. "He was out there with us which was a great sign. Seems like he's really heading in the right direction, so all good. Sooner than later [he should be ready for games], I would think, but you have to take it day by day still. I think it's important here after practice to see where he's at."

Woll was expected to start Toronto's season opener against Montreal on Oct. 9 until he complained of lower-body tightness, which has kept him out since.

"A little bit of groin tightness and I'm feeling better now, so right now I'm just focused on coming back and helping this team," Woll said. "I'm just trying to take it day by day and stack good days on top of each other. I'm really excited to get back."

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{allcanada} Miller questionable for Canucks on Tuesday

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J.T. Miller is questionable to play against the Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday (8:15 p.m. ET; CHSN, SNP) after the center was injured during a 3-0 win at the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday.

Miller went to the locker room immediately after taking the game-opening face-off. He returned a few minutes later but took one more face-off the remainder of the game. Miller leads the Canucks with 90 face-offs and his 61.1 percent face-off winning percentage is fifth in the NHL (minimum 50 face-offs).

Miller had one shot on goal in 17:01 of ice time, well below his average of 19:31 in five games.

"He's dealing with some stuff," coach Rick Tocchet said. "We'll figure it out over the next couple days, but we didn't want him to take draws. Still played well for us even if he didn't take draws."

Tocchet said he was hopeful Miller would be able to play Tuesday.

"I expect that, but you never know," he said. "He'll get at a couple days off to rest it and see where it goes."

Dakota Joshua took part in the Canucks' morning skate Saturday, the first time the forward has practiced since having offseason surgery as part of his treatment for testicular cancer.

Joshua took part in drills wearing a noncontact jersey and then stayed on the ice for extra work in battle drills with the coaching staff.

"He's gone through a lot," defenseman Tyler Myers said. "Glad everything's taken care of and it looks like he's getting pretty close. Nice to have him skate with the guys for pregame skate. He's a big part of our group. He's a unique player that provides us a lot of momentum out there with his physicality and the way he plays."

In a statement released Sept. 17 explaining his health issue, Joshua was confident he would play at some point this season. He did not play Saturday.

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