"The ice was right there, so what's Taylor Hall going to do? Not skate?

Fat chance.

When you were born to be a hockey player, a fresh, empty sheet is almost impossible to resist.

So, with the rest of the Edmonton Oilers working out in the team gym, and with the blessing of the training staff, the injured winger went for his first twirl since banging up his shoulder in Denver last Saturday.

"It's a good feeling to be out there and doing things that I didn't think I'd be doing this far ahead," said the 20-year-old sophomore. "I'm not sure if they thought I was going to be out there as soon as this. It feels good to be out so fast and a little bit ahead of schedule.

"To be out there shooting pucks, feeling the puck again feels nice.""