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The ice had emptied, save for the players who were not in the Edmonton Oilers’ lineup for Monday night’s game against the Carolina Hurricanes.

Among the holdovers was Connor McDavid, who continues to take steps back from a fractured clavicle.

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Injured on Nov. 3, McDavid had his first practice with the team on New Year’s Day. While he is still not involved in contact situations, he is taking faceoffs and participating in drills.

“We’re asking each other, ‘Can he play tonight?’ but that’s not real,” said head coach Todd McLellan. “We’re all aware of him getting closer and being more involved. I think he has found a way, as have some of the others who have returned to the ice, to energize our group. They’re able to take some reps at high speed … it drags everybody else along.

“As soon as we can get him back, we will.”

McDavid underwent surgery to repair the damage caused when he slammed into the end boards under the weight of Philadelphia Flyers defencemen Michael Del Zotto and Brandon Manning.