Welp… Onward and upward. Final Score: 3-1 Lightning
If ever the Oilers were presented with a best-case scenario for beating the Tampa Bay Lightning, it had to be tonight with Nikita Kucherov, Steven Stamkos, Ryan McDonagh, and Anthony Cirelli out of the lineup. By no means did having these guys out of Tampa’s lineup suggest that scoring two points was a slam dunk, far from it, but it sure as shit had to help, right? Even so, the Lightning are a very deep team that’s on a ridiculous heater (20-2-1 since December 23rd) and it was going to take the Oilers playing at their best if they were going to take advantage of the depleted roster, and that goes even more so with Connor McDavidon the shelf with a quad injury. What I kept asking myself all day was whether the Oilers would be able to grind out another win for the captain to make sure that he’s coming back to a team that’s well in the mix for the playoffs? Instead, we all got a good look at what a real contender looks like.
In the early going, the Lightning looked like they were shot out of a cannon and not at all feeling the effects of missing some of their best players, and their energy was a major challenge for the Oilers to handle. Had it not been for Mike Smith and some love from the post, Tampa could have been up by a goal or three in the opening moments and the visitors were lucky to come away unscathed. And while things settled down a little bit as the period went on, the Oilers too often looked like they were hanging on for dear life far and it was painful to watch. If we’re being positive, however, you have to call it a win that the boys were able to bend without breaking, leaving the game scoreless as they headed back to the room for the intermission. In the second period, the Oilers did a better job of countering with the Lightning as they traded early goals and scoring chances. That was until, for the second game in a row, the Oilers gave up a shorthanded goal after failing to gain the offensive zone, derailing any momentum they were building at that moment.
Heading into the third period down by a goal, the Oilers were going to need to manufacture more offence while also being aware of Tampa’s ability to turn the puck around. Obviously, that’s a tall order to handle and it wasn’t exactly surprising that the Oilers were unable to make that happen. To put it another way, the Lightning were just too good, too deep, and too fast for the McDavidless Oilers to handle, which made the shorthanded game winner that much tougher to swallow. Though they had some excellent chances to get back in it, the Oilers just couldn’t beat Vasilevskiy and sometimes, you just have to top your cap to a strong goaltending performance.
Caleb Jones tied the game up at one apiece (1-1) after taking a pass from Nugent-Hopkins in the high slot, having his initial shot blocked, finding the loose puck again and ripping it past Vasilevskiy. For my money, Jones is turning into a fine option for the third pairing and I think he’s going to force management into some interesting decisions when the offseason rolls around.
Mike Smith was back in net for his 29th start of the season and I was looking for him to keep the good times rolling as he has yet to lose in regulation since the calendar flipped to 2020. To put it lightly, Smith was bar far and away the best Oiler tonight and a major reason they were in it until the very end. Had it not been for Smith, this game likely would have been out of control in the first period and I think he deserves a bunch of props for the way he stood tall in net.
Props to Ryan Nugent-Hopkins for the nice little stop/pass he made to Caleb Jones on the goal.
At least Leon Draisaitl added another assist to his totals? The big man now has 90 points in 57 games which is absolutely ridiculous.
I’m sure you guys are sick of me talking about him in at this point, but I love the way Ethan Bear moves the puck. Based on his ability to fire passes up ice, he’s almost a unicorn in this defensive group and I’m really enjoying the way he’s progressed this season.
I love me a 5pm start! Eastern road trips forever.
Pat Maroon opened the scoring for the Tampa Bay Lightning to give them a lead that we probably all saw coming for a period or more. Are you surprised? He hadn’t scored in 10 games before tonight. You’re probably not surprised, are you? No, I didn’t think so.
For the second straight game, the Oilers gave up a shorthanded goal after being unable to enter the zone and this time it was Yanni Gourde who was the beneficiary of that sloppiness. Gross play, gross result.
Cedric Paquette got the empty netter (3-1) to put the final nail in the coffin even though the score likely should have been way worse than it ended up.
The Oilers really need to go back to the drawing board when it comes to zone entries on the power play. For some reason, they’re still trying to carry it in the way they would have when Connor is on the ice, but it’s just not working the same way without him.
You have to think Zack Kassian is going to get a call from the NHL’s Department of Player Safety for the kick he dished out in the first period, right? I mean, I know there was a dogpile going on in the moment but you can’t kick a guy off of you, and it will be very interesting to see what kind of punishment he gets for this one. Dumb play imo.
I thought it was a tough night for Oscar Klefbom as he finished the night with a -3 (I know it’s not a great stat) and a handful of costly giveaways that really cost his team.
Matt Benning took a high hit from Cernak in the third period and all I could think about was how it was the last thing that Benning needed considering the time he’s already spent on the shelf with concussions.
Did anyone else feel like it was insanely dark in Tampa’s arena? What’s up with that? Someone not paying the power bill or what? I felt like my TV was on power save mode or something.
Game two without Connor McDavid. I don’t like it.
Oilers really needed their powerplay to come through with a goal tonight, but instead, they gave up a shortie that ended up being the winner. Ugly.
Only 44% in the faceoff circle tonight. Tough to start most shift chasing the puck against a team like Tampa.
Outshot 37-30 even though it seemed like the shot clock would be a lot more lopsided than that, especially in the early going.
1ST PERIOD
TIME
TEAM
DETAILS
SCORE
No Scoring
2ND PERIOD
TIME
TEAM
DETAILS
SCORE
04:39
Tampa Bay
Pat Maroon (7) ASST: Cameron Gaunce (1), Luke Schenn (1)
0-1
09:36
Edmonton
Caleb Jones (3) ASST: Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (27), Leon Draisaitl (58)
1-1
13:01
Tampa Bay
SHG – Yanni Gourde (8)
1-2
3RD PERIOD
TIME
TEAM
DETAILS
SCORE
19:04
Tampa Bay
EN – Cedric Paquette (5) ASST: Brayden Point (35), Alex Killorn (21)
1-3
It is dark and quiet in Tampa’s arena, reminiscent of the death that will one day come for us all. Happy Valentines Day.
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Montreal police say they’ve arrested a man in connection with the theft of tens of thousands of dollars in golf merchandise tied to the Presidents Cup PGA Tour being held this week in the city.
Police say that on Sept. 20 and Sept. 21 a person entered a downtown Montreal hotel and stole numerous official items and clothing “from a major golf tournament.”
The tournament is taking place at the Royal Montreal Golf Club in the city’s L’Île-Bizard–Ste-Geneviève’s borough through Sunday.
Police say a 46-year-old man was arrested in downtown Montreal on Thursday and was arraigned Friday on a number of charges including theft.
The accused remains detained until his next court appearance.
Police say the investigation is ongoing to locate the stolen golf items and apparel, adding that anyone with information is invited to come forward.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 27, 2024.
TORONTO – The Toronto Raptors are expected to confirm today that Vince Carter’s No. 15 will be the first number to be retired by the NBA franchise.
Carter will attend an MLSE Foundation event this afternoon at the renovated Vince Carter Court at a park in the city’s northwest end.
Raptors president and vice-chairman Masai Ujiri will also be on hand along with some current players and city officials.
Reports this week said that Canada’s lone NBA team would honour Carter on Nov. 2 when Toronto plays the Sacramento Kings at Scotiabank Arena.
Carter, an eight-time all-star, played parts of seven seasons with the Raptors. He was named NBA rookie of the year in 1999 and won the Slam Dunk Contest in 2000.
He was the Raptors’ first superstar and is credited for raising the profile of the team and igniting enthusiasm for basketball across Canada.
Carter guided the Raptors to the Eastern Conference semifinal in 2001. Toronto had a chance to beat the Philadelphia 76ers in Game 7 but Carter’s shot at the buzzer hit the rim and bounced out.
He asked for a trade in 2004 and was dealt to New Jersey in a mid-season deal that saw the Raptors receive little in return. The Nets, who are now based in Brooklyn, plan to retire Carter’s number in January.
Carter played 22 seasons in the NBA before retiring after the 2019-20 season. He’ll be enshrined in the Basketball Hall of Fame next month.
The Raptors are celebrating their 30th anniversary this season.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 27, 2024.
NEW YORK (AP) — Aaron Judge hit his major league-leading 58th home run, going deep for the fifth straight game to help the New York Yankees wrap up their second AL East title in three years with a 10-1 victory over the Baltimore Orioles on Thursday night.
Giancarlo Stanton had four RBIs that included his 27th homer, Alex Verdugo also homered and Gerrit Cole outpitched Corbin Burnes in a possible postseason preview. Judge and Stanton homered in the same game for the 14th time this year, tying Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris in 1961 for the most in Yankees history.
New York assured itself a first-round bye and home-field advantage in a best-of-five AL Division Series starting Oct. 5.
Baltimore, which clinched a postseason berth by winning Tuesday night’s opener of the three-game series, will be in a best-of-three Wild Card Series starting Tuesday.
Stanton homered in the second to put the Yankees ahead and hit a three-run double in a six-run sixth.
Judge hit a two-run homer in the seventh against Bryan Baker and has 144 RBIs, the most in the major leagues since Ryan Howard’s 146 in 2008. Judge matched his career best by homering in five consecutive games.
Making his last start before the playoffs, Cole (8-5) allowed two hits in 6 2/3 innings, struck out five and walked one, lowering his ERA to 3.41. He struck out Anthony Santander with a 98.1 mph fastball that ended the eighth after plate umpire David Rackley called a ball on the previous pitch, a knuckle-curve that appeared to be just above the strike zone. Cole glared as the umpire as the pitcher walked back to the dugout.
Cole was given a standing ovation when he walked to the dugout with two outs in the seventh and tipped his cap to the crowd of 42,022.
Burnes (15-9) allowed two hits in five innings, one walk and nine strikeouts — including eight on cutters. Burnes came out after 69 pitches and is likely to start the Orioles’ postseason opener on Tuesday. He had a 1.20 ERA in five September starts.
Stanton lofted a slider at the bottom of the strike zone into the left-field seats after missing badly at a slider on the prior pitch.
Austin Wells, in a 4-for-42 slide, forced in a run when he walked with the bases loaded against Cionel Pérez. Stanton drove the next pitch on one hop to the wall in right-center for a 5-1 lead. Stanton has 72 RBIs after hitting 6 for 18 with two doubles, two homers and eight RBIs in his last five games.
Anthony Rizzo added a two-run single against Baker.
Emmanuel Rivera hit a ninth-inning sacrifice fly for the Orioles.
UP NEXT
Orioles: LHP Cade Povich (2-9, 5.59) starts a series opener at Minnesota on Friday, when LHP Pablo López (15-9, 4.11) will be on the mound for the Twins.
Yankees: LHP Carlos Rodón (16-9, 3.98), 7-2 with a 2.87 ERA since the All-Star break. starts Friday’s series opener against Pirates RHP Jared Jones (6-8, 4.14).
