Ice Chips: Tavares ready for season opener

Per sources, Toronto Maple Leafs captain John Tavares will be ready for their season opener on Wednesday against the Montreal Canadiens. 

Tavares suffered an oblique strain on Sept 27, and was originally given a three week timeline for recovery - but he has indicated he feels comfortable enough to play ahead of schedule. 

The Leafs skated the following lines in their final practice of the pre-season ahead of their season-opening match against the Montreal Canadiens on Wednesday, per TSN Hockey Insider Mark Masters:

Bunting - Matthews - Marner

Nylander - Tavares - Malgin 

Engvall - Kerfoot - Jarnkrok 

Aston-Reese - Kampf - Aube-Kubel

Rielly - Brodie

Muzzin - Holl 

Giordano - Sandin 

Murray 

Samsonov

Additionally, the power play units skating in practice looked as follows: 

Leafs power play at practice 1st unit Rielly, Matthews, Marner, Nylander, Tavares 2nd unit Giordano, Jarnkrok, Malgin, Kerfoot, Bunting @TSN_Edge

Nico Hischier has joined the New Jersey Devils at practice for the first time this pre-season; the plan was to work him back slowly as he rehabs from a strained hamstring suffered on Sept 29. 

Guess who’s back. Back again. Nice to see the Cap back at practice.