A strong Central Division comeback, an all-Canadian matchup, a long-awaited goal and more.
Here are five things we learned in the NHL on Wednesday night:
McDavid’s surgery a success
Less than 24 hours after Connor McDavid sustained a fractured clavicle when he went crashing into the boards versus the Philadelphia Flyers, the team announced the rookie underwent successful surgery.
Oilers general manager Peter Chiarelli did not give an exact timeline with regards to McDavid’s expected return — he said McDavid will miss “months” — this is the first bit of good news for McDavid as he begins his road to recovery.
Now, the question is: Can the Oilers step up in his absence?
They’ll get their first test Friday night as they take on Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Jets make good on vow for redemption
The Winnipeg Jets suffered an embarrassing loss to the Montreal Canadiens on Sunday, and they were determined to bounce back Wednesday against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Mission accomplished. Though they let in two Maple Leafs goals, the Jets showed solid discipline as they gained speed throughout the game on their way to an eventual 4-2 victory. The victory further demonstrated why, according to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, the young team is a force to be reckoned with in the Central division.
It was a solid night for Mark Scheifele, as he and linemates Mathieu Perreault and Nikolaj Ehlers continued their second-line success.
The game-winning goal came from Alex Burmistrov, in a redemption sub-plot of his own. The Russian centreman took a careless holding penalty late in the game, but more than made up for it as soon as he exited the penalty box:
The Jets weren’t the only Central Division team to have a big night…
Blues defy the odds (…with bacon?)
Judging by just the first period alone, Wednesday’s game between the Chicago Blackhawks and St. Louis Blues looked like it was going to be a blowout victory for the defending Stanley Cup champions. The score after 20 minutes was 5-2 Blackhawks, marking the first time a team scored five goals in one period so far this season.
Of course, the game was far from over.
The Blues showed resiliency as they roared back (#RoarBacon) to victory despite losing goaltender Brian Elliott to injury, thanks to an overtime winner from Vladimir Tarasenko.
Bieksa could be in hot water
Kevin Bieksa might be getting a call from the league on Thursday after he landed a blind-side open-ice hit on Florida Panthers forward Brandon Pirri in the second period of Wednesday night’s game. Bieksa was issued an interference penalty.
In related news: Corey Perry’s goalless streak has ended. His first goal of the season tied the game with just seconds to go in regulation. The rallying Ducks went on to win in a shootout.
Speaking of long-awaited goals…
Crosby’s power of fives
It’s been more than five years since Crosby scored that famous golden goal for Team Canada in Vancouver, but the comparisons were plenty leading up to the Penguins’ visit to Rogers Arena to play the Canucks. (Sorry, Ryan Miller.)
Crosby’s goal against Miller in the third period of the Penguins’ 3-2 win over the Vancouver Canucks may not have held as much significance as that Olympic overtime feat, but it almost certainly brought some relief. Crosby has been struggling in the goal-scoring department, but he ended another five-game drought — his second of the season — by scoring on the power play.
The Penguins have now won — you guessed it — five in a row.