EDMONTON — There is no such thing as the perfect game in hockey — and we’re not even talking about this crazy COVID era, and all the drama that preceded Thursday’s tilt in Montreal.
Take any normal game. Dig into the game sheet hard enough, you can always a flaw or two.
But the effort the Edmonton Oilers laid down in Montreal Thursday — a 3-0 win in which they were in control for a full 60 minutes — was as close as you’ll ever see to regular-season perfection.
Missing first-line winger Jesse Puljujarvi and backup goalie Mikko Koskinen due to COVID protocol, with the start time pushed back an hour so everyone could be re-tested, the Oilers threw a game at the Montreal Canadiens that was, frankly, as good as Edmonton could be expected to play on their final game of a four-game road trip. Maybe as good as they can play — period.
“Trip was a pretty good one,” understated head coach Dave Tippett said of the 3-1 journey. “In Calgary (a 6-4 loss) there was some positive things we took out of that, but not the score obviously. Ottawa we battled (won two) … there’s a lot of people contributing right now. We’re hanging around hockey games and doing enough to win. The thing I liked was we didn’t give up a lot of goals on the trip, that’s our mindset right now.”
The Oilers got a third-line goal (Jujhar Khaira), two more goals from the defence, perfect goaltending from Mike Smith (38 saves), and in no way were they carried by Connor McDavid (two assists), Leon Draisaitl (a powerplay assist each) or the one-for-three powerplay. They’ve allowed three goals in their past three games.
“Everyone wants to chip in,” said Khaira, who scored and has points in four of his last five games (2-3-5). “The guys on the third and fourth line, they’re not going into the game thinking they’re not going to score. They’re trying to produce as well. If anything we just take some pressure off the top guys that produce day in and day out.”
It was Edmonton’s third straight road win and their sixth ‘W’ in the last seven games. With goals from Darnell Nurse and a powerplay blast by Tyson Barrie that salted this one away in Period 3, the Oilers have now had five of their past six goals delivered by defencemen.
After a 3-6 start, the Oilers have found their mojo, and their first brush with COVID had literally no effect on their game night performance.
“It’s strange,” said Khaira, “but it’s something that we’ve been preparing for and it’s something that can happen. Everybody knows that and for all of us it was still a game day. We were focused right when we got up and went through the day and got ready for the game like usual.”
As for Puljujarvi, we’re not entirely sure of his status, other than he was placed on the NHL’s COVID protocol list. The best-case scenario is that it was a false positive, and he can fly home this weekend after testing negative twice. Worst case, he is positive, and will have to quarantine for a while.
Stay tuned.
Livin’ Right
Everything is going in for Darnell Nurse this season. And we mean, EVERYTHING.
On Tuesday he opened the Oilers scoring with a long, low slapper that inexplicably got under Marcus Hogberg’s pads and stick in Ottawa. Then, against the Canadiens, he watched as Habs defenceman Shea Weber rifled the rebound of a Nurse shot off his own defence partner and into the Montreal goal.
“He continues to mature,” said Tippett. “He’s getting extra minutes because of the (Oscar) Klefbom situation, and he’s taking advantage. He’s one of our leaders and you love it when one of your leaders backs it up with his play.”
Nurse played 24:38 and was a plus-one. With the goal, he became the first Oilers defenceman to notch six goals in the opening 16 games of a season since Paul Coffey some 35 years ago, back in 1985-86.
When Tyson Barrie scored later on, the Oilers moved into the NHL lead with 13 goals from their defencemen.
It’s Smith… Mike Smith
OK. Raise your hand if you thought Mike Smith would return from injury and post a 2-0 record, a 0.50, goals-against average and a saves percentage of .985?
Like, the puck must look like a beach ball right now for the big Oilers netminder, no?
“A little smaller than a beach ball, but I’m seeing it pretty good,” he said. “I wanted to come in after missing a month and be really solid for the group. A lot of hard work has gone into the off-season. You want to come back and feel like you’ve not missed a beat. The first two games have gone really well for me.”
His toughest work on a 38-save night may well have been the Canadiens very first shot on goal — a clear-cut breakaway for Nick Suzuki. Smith thwarted him with the glove hand, and would not be beaten the rest of the night.
“It’s big. It’s a 0-0 game at the time,” Smith noted. “Not the ideal start, but to make a save there was huge for our group and we were able to score some goals there and get a big win.”
Smith continues to seek new training methods, and different ways to remain a viable NHL goalie, as his 39th birthday nears next month. Someone should tell this guy that NHL goalies aren’t supposed to improve with age. Not when they’re pushing 40.
“I don’t agree with that at all,” Smith said. “I feel great. Every year I’ve gone home at the end of the year and found out little things I can improve on. I’m always looking to find ways to get better. Until I lose that drive to get better and play a long time in this league, I’ll keep playing and keep doing what I can to help this team win.”
Smith has given up one goal in six periods, a top-shelf bullet by his own defenceman, Adam Larsson. This was his 40th career shut out, something only 45 NHL goalers have accomplished.
The French league’s legal commission has ordered Paris Saint-Germain to pay Kylian Mbappé the 55 million euros ($61 million) in unpaid wages that he claims he’s entitled to, the league said Thursday.
The league confirmed the decision to The Associated Press without more details, a day after the France superstar rejected a mediation offer by the commission in his dispute with his former club.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Former football star Reggie Bush was at his Encino home Tuesday night when three male suspects attempted to break in, the Los Angeles Times reported Wednesday.
“Everyone is safe,” Bush said in a text message to the newspaper.
The Los Angeles Police Dept. told the Times that a resident of the house reported hearing a window break and broken glass was found outside. Police said nothing was stolen and that three male suspects dressed in black were seen leaving the scene.
Bush starred at Southern California and in the NFL. The former running back was reinstated as the 2005 Heisman Trophy winner this year. He forfeited it in 2010 after USC was hit with sanctions partly related to Bush’s dealings with two aspiring sports marketers.
VANCOUVER – A fresh face has been gracing the B.C. Lions‘ highlight reels in recent weeks.
Midway through his second CFL campaign, wide receiver Ayden Eberhardt has contributed touchdowns in two consecutive games.
The 26-year-old wide receiver from Loveland, Colo., was the lone B.C. player to reel in a passing major in his team’s 37-23 victory over the league-leading Montreal Alouettes last Friday. The week before, he notched his first CFL touchdown in the Lions’ win over the Ottawa Redblacks.
“It’s been awesome. It’s been really good,” Eberhardt said of his recent play. “At the end of the day, the biggest stat to me is if we win. But who doesn’t love scoring?”
He’ll look to add to the tally Friday when the Leos (7-6) host the Toronto Argonauts.
Eberhardt signed with B.C. as a free agent in January 2023 and spent much of last season on the practice squad before cementing a role on the roster this year.
The six-foot-two, 195-pound University of Wyoming product has earned more opportunities in his second season, said Lions’ head coach and co-general manager Rick Campbell.
“He’s a super hard worker and very smart. He understands, has high football IQ, as we call it,” Campbell said.
The fact that Eberhardt can play virtually every receiving position helps.
“He could literally go into a game and we could throw him into a spot and he’d know exactly what he’s doing,” the coach said. “That allows him to play fast and earn the quarterback’s trust. And you see him making plays.”
Eberhardt credited his teammates, coaches and the rest of the Lions’ staff with helping him prepare for any situation he might face. They’ve all spent time teaching him the ins and outs of the Canadian game, or go over the playbook and run routes after practice, he said.
“I’ve played every single position on our offence in a game in the last two years, which is kind of crazy. But I love playing football,” he said. “I want to play any position that the team needs me to play.”
While B.C.’s lineup is studded with stars like running back William Stanback — who has a CFL-high 938 rushing yards — and wide receiver Justin McInnis — who leads the league in both receiving yards (1,074) and receiving TDs (seven) — versatility has been a critical part of the team’s back-to-back wins.
“I think we’ve got a lot of talented guys who deserve to get the ball and make big plays when they have the ball in their hands. So it’s really my job to get them the ball as much as possible,” said quarterback Nathan Rourke.
“I think that makes it easy when you can lean on those guys and, really, we’re in a situation where anyone can have a big game. And I think that’s a good place to be.”
Even with a talented lineup, the Lions face a tough test against an eager Argos side.
Toronto lost its second straight game Saturday when it dropped a 41-27 decision to Ottawa.
“We’ll have our hands full,” Rourke said. “We’ll have to adjust on the fly to whatever their game plan is. And no doubt, they’ll be ready to go so we’ll have to be as well.”
The two sides have already met once this season when the Argos handed the Lions a 35-27 loss in Toronto back on June 9.
A win on Friday would vault B.C. to the top of the West Division standings, over the 7-6 Winnipeg Blue Bombers who are on a bye week.
Collecting that victory isn’t assured, though, even with Toronto coming in on a two-game skid, Campbell said.
“They’ve hit a little bit of a rut, but they’re a really good team,” he said. “They’re very athletic. And you can really see (quarterback Chad Kelly’s) got zip on the ball. When you see him in there, he can make all the throws. So we’re expecting their best shot.”
TORONTO ARGONAUTS (6-6) AT B.C. LIONS (7-6)
Friday, B.C. Place
HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE: The Lions boast a 4-1 home record this season, including a 38-12 victory over the Redblacks at Royal Athletic Park in Victoria, B.C., on Aug. 31. The Argos have struggled outside of BMO Field and hold a 1-5 away record. Trips to the West Coast haven’t been easy for Toronto in recent years — since 2003, the club is 4-14 in road games against B.C.
CENTURION: B.C. defensive back Garry Peters is set to appear in his 100th consecutive game. The 32-year-old from Conyers, Ga., is a two-time CFL all-star who has amassed 381 defensive tackles, 19 special teams tackles and 16 interceptions over seven seasons. “Just being on the field with the guys every day, running around, talking trash back and forth, it keeps me young,” Peters said. “It makes me feel good, and my body doesn’t really feel it. I’ve been blessed to be able to play 100 straight.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 12, 2024.
