Friday, January 1, 2016

League-Wide Notebook: McDavid practices; Palat may return; Boychuk on IR

"The Neutral Zone" League-Wide Report

McDavid practices with Oilers: Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid participated in practice Friday for the first time since fracturing his left clavicle on Nov. 3.

McDavid, the No. 1 selection in the 2015 NHL Draft, took part in a number of light drills with the Oilers. Edmonton hosts the Arizona Coyotes at Rexall Place on Saturday (4 p.m., ET; SNW).

"It feels good, it's good to feel normal again and be out there with them," McDavid said. "Obviously, it was a little lighter practice getting ready for tomorrow's game, but it was still a lot of fun being out there with them."

McDavid, 18, sustained the injury in a 4-2 win against the Philadelphia Flyers. He lost an edge on a shorthanded rush and crashed into the end boards along with two Flyers defensemen.

Palat could return for Lightning against Wild: Tampa Bay Lightning left wing Ondrej Palat on Friday told The Tampa Tribune he feels ready to return from an ankle injury but will wait to see how he feels before playing Saturday against the Minnesota Wild.

Palat, who has two goals and five assists in 18 games this season, has been sidelined since re-aggravating his injury Dec. 12 against the Washington Capitals. He was injured Nov. 7 against the Wild and was out until Dec. 10 against the Ottawa Senators.

Islanders defenseman Boychuk on injured reserve: New York Islanders defenseman Johnny Boychuk has been placed on injured reserve with an upper-body injury.

Boychuk left a 2-1 win against the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday after hitting the boards shoulder-first with 4:27 remaining and did not return. A time frame will not be released until he sees doctors next week, according to tweets from the Islanders.

"It could’ve been a lot worse, his neck or his head ...," coach Jack Capuano said after the game.

Boychuk has three goals and 11 assists in 38 games this season.

Adam Pelech has been recalled from Bridgeport of the American Hockey League.

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