Edmonton Oilers' Connor McDavid celebrates his goal against the Columbus Blue Jackets during second period NHL action in Edmonton on February 2, 2016. Connor McDavid didn't miss a beat after missing three months with a broken collarbone, putting up three points in two games for the Edmonton Oilers. But the 19-year-old says it was tough to sit out that long in his first NHL season. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson

MONTREAL - Connor McDavid didn't skip a beat in his return from a three-month layoff with a broken left collarbone.

The top pick in the 2015 NHL draft put up two goals and three assists in the Edmonton Oilers' one-sided wins over Columbus and Ottawa in his first two games back.

"You just try to deal with it the best you can," the 19-year-old said Friday. "You never really know how you're going to feel until you get back into a game, so I'm definitely happy with how I started."

He hopes to keep it going in a pair of afternoon games: Saturday in Montreal and Sunday against the Islanders in New York.

McDavid is considered the most gifted NHL player since Sidney Crosby debuted in 2005, but his rookie season was put on hold when he crashed into the end boards in a game Nov. 3 at Rexall Place against Philadelphia.

Any fears that the injury may hinder his play were allayed when he split the defence for a highlight goal in his first game back against the Blue Jackets.

"I think I came back at a good time," said McDavid. "After the all star break maybe everyone was going through a bit of a lull.

"It's just natural for that to happen. I know the play will ramp right back up as soon as everyone starts feeling good again after such a long break."

That Oilers won both games easily helped. Coach Todd McLellan was able to limit McDavid's ice time to under 14 minutes and let him ease back into play. He will see more ice on his new line with Jordan Eberle and Benoit Pouiot in tighter games.

Broadcaster Don Cherry suggested this week that McDavid play with a little more caution to avoid injuries, citing Bobby Orr and Pavel Bure as stars whose careers ended early because they never learned when to slow down.

McDavid said Cherry may have a point.

"It's definitely good to hold back a little but I try to play hard every night," he said. "I know it can't always be like that.

"There are definitely times to pick your spots and when not to, and I think that comes with age and learning the league a bit better."

Winger Taylor Hall, a former No. 1 overall pick who dealt with injuries, said McDavid was not in the best of moods sitting out for three months, but picked up as he got closer to a return.

"It's certainly a struggle, just timing and everything like that, but I don't think he struggled very hard," said Hall. "He's come back and been the same player as before he got hurt.

"He was pretty down. I think he felt he let us down and that's not the case. It was just an injury and that happens to a lot of guys. I try to remind him of that. But as he started to see the light at the end of the tunnel you saw his true character come out."

McDavid's return has given the entire team a boost by giving them a second dangerous scoring line behind Hall's unit and getting the power play back on track.

But the Oilers (21-26-5) remain tied for last in the Pacific Division with Calgary, who have three games in hand. It would take an enormous push in the final 30 regular season games to make the playoffs.

They are up against a Montreal team mired in a 5-20-1 funk, but McLellan said his team can't go in expecting another easy win.

"I think we'll be facing a growly team that will come out prepared," he said.

News from © The Canadian Press, 2016