Edmonton Oilers practice at U of A with uncertain schedule ahead – Edmonton | The Canadian News

The Edmonton Oilers returned to work Sunday afternoon at the Clare Drake Arena. It was their first time on the ice as a team since their 5-3 victory in Seattle on December 18.

The Oilers postponed their last three games before Christmas as the NHL dealt with COVID-19 cases in the league. His Monday game in Calgary had also been postponed. At the moment, the Oilers’ next game is Wednesday in St. Louis.

“It’s tough. We’re trying to get ready, get ready again,” Captain Connor McDavid said of the uncertainty.

“It’s the day to day,” said head coach Dave Tippett. “We will spend the next day or two here, we will pass the tests and see where we are with everything. Not just with us, but in the league. That will likely determine when we are ready. The guys here today had great energy and they were excited to come back and carry on. “

“It’s kind of weird right now not having the slightest idea,” Ryan Nugent-Hopkins said. “We will continue to practice and work on our game here.”

Tippett, Nugent-Hopkins, Devin Shore, and Ryan McLeod returned from the COVID protocol.

“For a few days I was a little sick, probably nothing worse than a cold,” Nugent-Hopkins said.

Tippett said he was asymptomatic and that none of the players on protocol have been very ill. Duncan Keith will be able to return on Wednesday. Darnell Nurse, William Lagesson and Jesse Puljujarvi will remain in protocol until December 31. Zack Kassian won’t be available until early January.

As for the injured players, winger Zach Hyman and goalkeeper Mike Smith were fully involved in training and are close to making a comeback.

It was the first time McDavid has spoken publicly since it was announced that NHL players will not be going to Beijing for the February Olympics.

“The whole thing is so disappointing. It’s hard to really put into words what I think a lot of guys are feeling, especially guys who have never had to leave before. Now we are missing it for the second time in a row, “said McDavid. “We need to do a better over better tournament at some point here. We can’t go six, seven or eight years without playing better against better. “

The Oilers will return to practice at Clare Drake on Monday morning.

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