It’s can’t be much fun searching for positives when you end up on the losing side of 4-2 game that saw your team surrender 51 shots on goal. Thankfully for the Edmonton Oilers, Connor McDavid‘s first career NHL goal comes with built-in optimism.
The 2015 first overall pick tipped a point shot by Andrej Sekera to earn his first goal at 12:18 of the second period.
The real game story was Jason Spezza‘s hat-trick, the Stars’ dominance in possession, and the Oilers falling to 0-3 to start the season after an off-season soaked in hope. Beyond McDavid’s goal and a couple nice stops by Anders Nilsson, there wasn’t much to satiate Oilers fans’ thirst for something to believe in.
It’s the smallest of victories, but nevertheless a historic moment. McDavid will score many more goals. If the Oilers can get themselves together under the guidance of head coach Todd McLellan and general manager Peter Chiarelli, then maybe some of those goals will come in much more meaningful situations.
This is hardly the start the Oilers wanted, but with that first goal out of the way maybe we can tone down the McSaviour hyperbole a little…or nah. Say, wasn’t there another Oilers legend who scored his first goal in his third NHL game?
Price in Vezina form in win over Penguins
It’s Carey Price versus the best player in the world, Sidney Crosby. Or is it Crosby versus the best player in the world, Carey Price.
The 2014-15 king of individual NHL hardware was at it again in the Montreal Canadiens‘ 3-2 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins Tuesday, shutting the door on Crosby late in the third period to preserve the lead.
With Price flashing that Hart Memorial/Vezina Trophy form and Max Pacioretty refusing to score less than two goals in a game, the Canadiens are off to a 4-0 start. Not to get ahead of ourselves here, but that’s historically a good thing for this team.
A coach’s challenge is not without controversy
Washington Capitals defenceman Dmitry Orlov hammered a puck past San Jose Sharks goaltender Martin Jones midway through the second period of their game Tuesday. Sharks head coach Pete DeBoer challenged the goal call, as it appeared as though Jay Beagle skated through the crease and made contact with Jones on the play.
The call was reversed by referee Tim Peel following a review.
The overhead view of the play doesn’t exactly provide conclusive evidence that Jones was interfered with by Beagle, though. And here we thought the coach’s challenge would dial back controversy.
A night of firsts
It wasn’t just McDavid lighting the lamp for the first time on Tuesday.
St. Louis Blues defenceman Colton Parayko scored the first two goals of his NHL career in his club’s win over the Calgary Flames, and Florida Panthers rookie Connor Brickley notched his inaugural marker.
Winnipeg Jets rookie Nikolaj Ehlers blasted a puck off the iron to beat Henrik Lundqvist for his first goal in a win over the New York Rangers.
And finally, Vancouver Canucks 2014 first-round pick (6th overall) Jake Virtanen played in his first NHL game Tuesday versus the Los Angeles Kings.
Lack pays homage to Luongo with mask
It wasn’t all that long ago when Eddie Lack was waiting in the wings while Roberto Luongo and Cory Schneider teamed up to form the NHL’s stingiest goaltending duo for the Canucks.
Now, all three goaltenders call the Eastern Conference home. Lack made his first start for the Carolina Hurricanes Tuesday, taking the loss against the Florida Panthers while Al Montoya spelled Luongo for the evening.
We learned that Lack’s current mask features a caricature of his old buddy Luongo on the back. This bromance will never die.
