Connor McDavid finally returned to game action after having surgery to repair a broken clavicle.
And it was quite a return. He not only immediately showed the kind huge impact he was capable of having at 18, he put up three points, including a stunning highlight-reel goal, helping the Oilers to a 5-1 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets.
On the goal he split the defense with a back-checker up on him. He blows past them and approached the net dead center, yet still manages to dangle hard enough to make Joonas Korpisalo slide way out of position, leaving a gaping maw for McDavid to gently tuck the puck into.
With the three-point night on Tuesday, McDavid now has 15 points in 14 games. It may be kind of silly to think a guy who came out of the All-Star break having played just 13 games would win the Calder, especially in a year with so many outstanding rookies, but McDavid is at least going to make voters think about it.
Watch the goal below.
McDAVID. IS. BACK.https://t.co/J2vjqimBcJ
— NHL (@NHL) February 3, 2016
So did anyone even sleep? 😐 pic.twitter.com/FKNJAkEOzM
— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) February 3, 2016