Forward Connor McDavid is expected to play for Canada on Sunday in an exhibition against Sweden leading up to the 2015 IIHF World Junior Championship.
The Canadian Press reported McDavid will be in the lineup at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa. It will be the 17-year-old's first game action since breaking his right pinky finger on Nov. 11, playing for the Erie Otters of the Ontario Hockey League.
"Just try and play as well as I can; I mean, that's the main thing," McDavid said, according to the CP. "I can't ask for too much, I've been off for a while. ... Just do what I can."
McDavid had 16 goals and 51 points in 18 games for Erie.
"I think it's a matter for him to get back into his rhythm," Canada coach Benoit Groulx said. "... It's only the feel for the game and the way he's got to go ... I think he's just got to take one period at a time and keep things simple."
After an exhibition against Switzerland on Dec. 23, Canada will open the 11-day tournament on Dec. 26 with a Group A game against Slovakia at Bell Centre in Montreal.
Canada will play its four preliminary-round games at Bell Centre. The Group A field consists of Canada, the United States, Finland, Slovakia and Germany.
The gold-medal game will take place at Air Canada Centre in Toronto on Jan. 5.
McDavid, who had scored a point in all but one game for Erie this season, has 69 goals and 216 points in 137 OHL games spanning three seasons.
He is projected to be a top pick in the 2015 NHL Draft.
Forward Curtis Lazar, on loan from the Ottawa Senators, also is expected to play for Canada on Sunday.
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