EDMONTON – The Edmonton Oilers can have an enormous benefit, they stated. The Montreal Canadiens had an honest coaching in per week. Their legs might be like cinder blocks, they stated.

After which the Canadiens scored simply 18 seconds into the sport. Then they struck one other at 3:23. And on the finish of the sport, the rating was Montreal Canadiens 4, Standard Knowledge 0.

Bounce?

The Canadians took a leap.

The Oilers? They blew themselves up.

“We did not begin very effectively. We did not play very effectively. We did not end very effectively, ”stated head coach Dave Tippett – a thought bubble above his head two essential factors with wings, hovering into the skies – after the 4- loss. 0 for the Oilers on Tuesday.

However severely. How have you learnt?

On this bizarre, unpredictable pandemic season, 19 out of 20 hockey consultants would have informed you that the Habs don’t have any prayer to beat anybody after their weeklong layoff as a consequence of COVID-19 protocols, with a solely exercise Monday night time and one morning. skate to arrange.

Then they steamed Edmonton, in a sport that was by no means shut. How is it going?

“If I might reply that query, I might be a billionaire,” stated Connor McDavid, whose Oilers had been alleged to play three video games in Montreal final week, and ended up stuffing it on a Tuesday earlier than returning dwelling. “One of many longest street journeys I feel I’ve ever taken and we have performed three video games. Plenty of issues to do nothing.

How does an NHL participant really feel one week away from the ice, because the Canadiens have skilled?

“Both you are feeling good otherwise you really feel like crap,” McDavid stated. “They had been clearly feeling fairly good tonight.”

It was Edmonton’s first regulatory loss in six video games, and a failure in a protracted net of video games wherein they had been totally aggressive. In a program like this, efficiency like that is inevitable.

“We did not have it. But it surely’s reset for us, ”Tippett stated. “There have been issues in our sport that had been an undercurrent for us. We’re occurring the street for 3 video games in 10 days, or no matter. Not superb. “

Coaching for the 2020-2021 season, even for a veteran like Tippett, is a brand new expertise.

“It is not an everyday time,” he stated. “It is a fully totally different fowl right here. Daily is a brand new problem.

Tres Belle Middle

You’ll be able to’t speak in regards to the historical past of the Oilers when you do not begin with their very first victory in a Nationwide Hockey League collection, a surprising upset for the Montreal Canadiens in 1981. It was the Oilers’ 14th place towards the No.3 Canadians – and Edmonton swept away the most effective of 5 within the first spherical in three straight video games.

Again then, the Canadiens performed within the previous Discussion board, though as we speak, a sport on the Bell Middle stays an expertise each NHL fan ought to deal with themselves to.

“Tons of historical past,” stated Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. “Even coaching there final week, it is nonetheless a cool expertise. These a few years within the league (10), and you continue to take pleasure in and take all of it. With the followers, the ambiance is unbelievable. With out followers, it’s nonetheless the previous basic constructing. “

Why have the Oilers loved taking part in there a lot through the years? How about this: They typically win, posting an unbelievable all-time report in Montreal of 43-19-7. Since Nugent-Hopkins entered the league, the Oilers are 8-2-1 in Montreal, successful their solely sport right here this season.

“I did not know that,” Nugent-Hopkins stated of his profession model. “We have at all times had good video games right here. It is enjoyable to play on this constructing – undoubtedly the most effective locations to play within the league. “

Tippett remembers his time as a participant, when his Hartford Whalers had been within the Adams Division with Montreal and Boston, his crew performed in a mall, whereas the Bruins and Canadiens performed in hockey cathedrals.

“You’d go to the previous Authentic Six cities, the hockey ambiance is contagious,” he stated. “The gamers like to play right here. They’re excited to play right here, and infrequently instances you could have household, and it turns right into a enjoyable place to play.

subsequent

Edmonton comes dwelling simply lengthy sufficient to vary its luggage – and face the Calgary Flames on Friday and Vancouver Canucks on Saturday – earlier than returning east to face Montreal on Monday, then a pair in Ottawa towards the Senators on Wednesday and Friday. .