HOCKEY: Oilers' Connor McDavid, Ducks' Leo Carlsson back as teams return from break

Edmonton Oilers star center Connor McDavid and Anaheim Ducks center Leo Carlsson are back in the lineup for Wednesday’s game, giving both teams a boost after the NHL’s Olympic break.

McDavid returned from the Winter Olympics, where he helped Canada win the silver medal before falling to the United States in overtime on Sunday at the Milan-Cortina Games. He arrived in California on Tuesday and took part in the Oilers’ morning skate Wednesday, ready for the team’s return to NHL action.

“There's no way around it, no way to sugarcoat it, it sucks,” McDavid said of the loss on Sunday. “But overall, the experience was good and it was a great group of guys to be around. Honestly, it was a special group to be a part of, and we'll have those memories for a lifetime.”

McDavid, 29, was named MVP of the men’s hockey tournament after recording two goals and 11 assists in 12 games. He leads the NHL with 96 points in 58 games, with 34 goals, second only to Colorado’s Nathan MacKinnon (40), and 62 assists, tied with Tampa Bay’s Nikita Kucherov for most in the league.

The Oilers could use a lift after losing three straight games before the break. They enter Wednesday’s matchup one point ahead of the Ducks and will face the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday, who sit four points behind Edmonton.

“It’s going to be a tight race coming down the stretch, and it’s going to be a sprint,” McDavid said of the remaining 24 regular-season games. “There’s only a handful of weeks left and we haven’t secured anything, so we’ve got to find a way to get going here out of the break. It starts with a big road trip in Anaheim, then LA and San Jose—three teams right there with us.”

In other roster moves Wednesday, Edmonton recalled forward Matt Savoie from AHL affiliate Bakersfield after one game on loan and activated forward Adam Henrique from long-term injured reserve (broken finger).

Carlsson, 21, returns after missing nearly six weeks due to a left thigh injury. He had a procedure on Jan. 16 and was expected to be out three to five weeks. Carlsson was named to Team Sweden’s Olympic roster but did not play.

“He’s looked good in practice and every day he’s gotten better and better,” Ducks coach Joel Quenneville said. Carlsson is tied for second on Anaheim with 44 points (18 goals, 26 assists) in 44 games.

-Field Level Media/Reuters