Leclerc Moves Toward Return

EDMONTON, Canada — Winger Mike Leclerc participated in contact drills Thursday for the second successive day, a significant step as he recovers from the arthroscopic surgery he had on his left knee in June.

He hasn’t set a date for his return, but he’s encouraged by his progress. “It’s a different kind of conditioning, skating some of the drills with a 200-pound guy pushing on you,” he said. “It’s good mentally, knowing I can go and take the next step. It’s a confidence-builder.”

He eased up Thursday because of some minor soreness, but he hopes to soon skate three or four days in a row and increase his workout intensity.

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Former Duck center Adam Oates, who signed with the Oilers as a free agent in November, played his 1,300th career game Thursday, a mark he never envisioned reaching.

“When you came in the league, we had the pension [threshold] of 400 games, and everybody would say, ‘Four hundred, that’s a lot,’ ” said Oates, who will be 42 in August. “When you come in the league, unless you’re [Wayne] Gretzky or some superstar, you’re just trying to get a uniform every night.”

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Winger Stanislav Chistov was scratched from the lineup because of a bruised hip he sustained in a collision with teammate Todd Simpson in practice Wednesday. He is expected to be available for today’s game.