VANCOUVER - Ryan Gauld knew right away that something was wrong.

The way his left leg had hyperextended was bad. The pain he was feeling was worse.

“At the time, I worried it was a big injury, like straight away, that I would maybe require a surgery or something," Gauld said "And thankfully, after doing the tests, it wasn't any structural damage, nothing that could last long term."

The knee injury sidelined the Vancouver Whitecaps captain for nearly seven months.

He returned Wednesday to help his team claim its fourth straight Canadian Championship.

Now, with three games left on the regular-season schedule, Gauld and the Whitecaps are preparing for a crucial stretch ahead of what they hope will be a long playoff run.

Vancouver's next test will come Sunday when the club hosts the San

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