McDavid’s return gives club some hope
In one game, with one spectacular goal, Connor McDavid has given the Edmonton Oilers hope the season can be salvaged.
The mountain the Oilers need to climb to get back in the playoff conversation is still steep and fraught with peril, but considering what McDavid did in his first game back after being out for three months, hope has sprung eternal.
“For sure, I think with the confidence that we gained last game, I think we’re going to get Justin Schultz back here too and that will help,” said Oilers winger Jordan Eberle, following a brief practice at the Leduc Recreation Centre on Wednesday. “For us to get in the playoffs, we’re going to have to get confidence and get on a run. We’re going to have to find a way to string some wins together and be consistent.”
The Oilers woke up eight points back of the third and final playoff spot in the Pacific Division following the triumphant return of McDavid. The rookie sensation scored a highlight-reel goal and added two assists in a 5-1 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday.
McDavid returned after missing 37 games with a fractured collarbone.
“I’ve seen Connor play 14 games and I think he’s a really special player, but there is no doubt there will be some tough nights as we go along,” said Oilers head coach Todd McLellan. “Even the veteran players that have played in the league for a long time, still have those nights. I think he can keep up his pace as far his skating and that type of stuff, but is he going to score three points and have a highlightreel goal every night? No, I don’t think that’s realistic or fair to even expect that from him. He did a good job in Game 1 and we’ll take it one game at a time.”
The Oilers begin a four-game Eastern road trip Thursday (5:30 p.m., SNW) against the Ottawa Senators. They’ll also face the Montreal Canadiens, New York Islanders and New Jersey Devils on the trip.
“This is going to be a big trip for us, I think we have to go at least 3-1 if we want a chance to make the playoffs,” Eberle said. “We’re playing some teams that like to play offensively.
If we understand what we worked on in practice (Wednesday) that they’re going to try and pinch and create stuff that way, that if we play the right way and play to our system, we’re going to get chances that way.”
Limping into the NHL all-star break on a three-game losing streak, the Oilers appeared to be left for dead in the playoff chase. Having played more games than anyone else in the division did not help matters.
Yet, McDavid’s performance against the Blue Jackets picked up a beleaguered team and a longsuffering city, and got them excited about hockey again.
“At the end of the day, it’s one win and it’s just two points in the standings, but it was a fun win and it was just a good night with Connor’s return and everything that happened with it,” said Oilers winger Taylor Hall. “I felt that every line and every guy contributed to the win.”
McDavid may have been the star of the night, but lost in his performance were excellent contributions from the rest of the team.
Eric Gryba snapped a 138-game goalless drought with his first as a an Oiler. Eberle and Benoit Pouliot each had a goal and an assist. Defenceman Andrej Sekera had two assists. Hall and Leon Draisaitl combined to score the Oilers’ fifth goal. And goaltender Cam Talbot turned aside 36 shots in the victory.
Understandably though, it was all about McDavid.
“It was really nice to see all the support I got just through texts and all that, it definitely meant a lot,” McDavid said. “I definitely missed it, just the feeling of being out there with the guys and having the fans behind us. I missed that feeling and it was special to be out there again.”
It took 26 seconds into his first shift for McDavid to remind everyone of his talent, drawing a tripping penalty. He then went out and scored a goal 19-year-olds usually only dream about, dancing through the Blue Jackets defence, then undressing the goaltender.
“The skill level, the speed, the finish, all that type of stuff was impressive,” McLellan said.
“But the fact that it was very similar to the situation where he got hurt, the same end, the same area of the ice, one versus two. He went for the hole, he accelerated through, and I think, for me, is evidence that he’s gone beyond the injury already and that’s a good sign for him and a good sign for us.”