Oliver Ekman-Larsson defies Maple Leaf injury hex, will face Oilers

Call it the Christmas miracle on Bay Street, featuring Oliver Ekman-Larsson.

When it looked like he’d be the latest Maple Leaf defenceman to be injured long-term, needing help off of the ice in Thursday’s game against San Jose, OEL is all in Saturday versus Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers.

He’d been unable to put any weight on his left leg after Shark winger Adam Gaudette toppled onto him in the third period. But in an unusual move for the secretive Leafs, coach Craig Berube said Friday that the injury wasn’t serious and Ekman-Larsson completed the morning skate with no issues.

“Crazy how much it can change in a day and half,” Ekman-Larsson said. “(The incident) was kind of a freak thing. The guy fell, he didn’t mean to. I was lucky to get out of it pretty quick.

The Leafs’ blueline is already without Chris Tanev, as he awaits a second opinion from a specialist on an upper body condition that has sidelined him six weeks, while Brandon Carlo underwent foot surgery Dec. 3. Last week also saw Marlie call-up Dakota Mermis moved to long-term injured reserve after a knee-on-knee hit by Tampa Bay’s Gage Goncalves.

“You look throughout the league and a lot of teams are going through this (spate of injuries,” Ekman-Larsson said. “It’s always a tricky part of the game.”

Had Ekman-Larsson not been cleared, the Leafs might have activated Marshall Rifai who has practised in full the past few days since October wrist surgery.

There could still be some deletions for Toronto after wingers William Nylander and Dakota Joshua came down with illness and didn’t participate in the Saturday skate. Berube listed both as game-time decisions.

Dennis Hildeby makes his fourth consecutive start in net for Toronto, with Joseph Woll on the verge of returning from a lower body injury.

The bigger news will be in the opposite crease where new Oiler Tristan Jarry is expected to debut after a huge trade with Pittsburgh on Friday, marking the end of Stuart Skinner’s time as the team’s much scrutinized starter.

“It has been a whirlwind,” former Edmonton Oil King junior Jarry said of the previous 24 hours. “I was very grateful for my time in Pittsburgh. But I have a good opportunity here and to be part of that is very special.”

Of Skinner, McDavid commented “he’ll be remembered for two exciting (Cup final) runs he backstopped. He was a good person here who always treated people well.”

Of course the annual visit by McDavid, Leon Draisaitl and the rest of the two-time Western Conference playoff champions is big news.

“It’s a challenge, but everyone here embraces it,” Auston Matthews said of a head-to-head against his fellow team captain and No. 1 overall pick McDavid.

McDavid had 37 points in 25 games versus his hometown team, many observers convinced he’ll wind up a Leaf before his career is done.

Lhornby@postmedia.com 

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