I Loved this Connor McDavid Game

I thought this was a great image from Imports Dragon figures. And a perfect figure. I need to get this figure graded. It's an all-timer hockey collectible.

Oh and here's the game where he lit the lamp four times and had an apple in Edmonton.

https://youtu.be/Xd-B92lydcs

41 goals, 67 assists and 108 points in his 2017-2018 campaign. Mr. Ross Trophy.

The one where Connor McDavid bails out the Oilers

[Oilers 3, Blues 2]

[Edmonton Journal]

The Oilers trailed 2-1 with just over three minutes to go. And then Connor McPerfect showed up. 

With his 13th goal of the season, McDavid tied the game at 2-2. In what some in Edmonton are calling a Christmas Miracle on 104th Street, the Oilers won the game just a little bit later with a goal from Drake Caggiula. 

Draisatl and Lucic assisted on McDavid's big time goal. And it was the first time all season that the Oilers have won back to back home games in Edmonton. 

Suddenly it would seem, the Oilers are climbing back in things ever so quietly. Still down in the standings at 16-17-2, the oilers are at 34 points, about five back of a playoff spot. They had to have this one. 

Pre-Christmas Hockey: Oilers 7, Blue Jackets 2

[Gamebook]
[Cult of Hockey] [Columbus Dispatch]

This was the guy I bought the ticket to see, as always. And on a cold and snowy Tuesday night down at Nationwide Arena, he did not disappoint. Connor McDavid netted three assists, and created utter chaos all over the ice netting four total points. Three beautiful assists and a goal later, the Oilers had won the game 7-2. 

Sergei Bobrovsky was in for a rough night on this evening. 

Bobrovsky is definitely the Columbus Blue Jackets' star player. However he allowed five goals before the second period was through and the Jackets trailed 5-0 at the second intermission. He was pulled from there. This was the worst performance I've seen a goalie have live. 

The best there ever was. No, but seriously; Wayne Gretzky was in the house my buddy told me who was watching the game on television. Why, I'm not sure. 

I always have loved Milan Lucic. He got a goal. 

Here's the Edmonton Oilers starting lineup on the ice for the Canadian national anthem. 

Here's the beloved Leo Welsh singing the Canadian National Anthem. 

The Columbus Blue Jackets starting lineup on the ice during the anthem. 

This is the first face off of the night during Connor McDavid's 18:24 of total ice time. 

I got to see Connor McDavid score the 58th goal of his career, and 12th of the season:


You may recall that I also saw him score the 13th goal of his career.

This was from a friend who was sitting behind the bench. This is Coach John Tortorella's hand and lap, and his lineup card. 

Overall, one of the most satisfying games I've seen live. Connor McDavid's dominance has never been more on display for me, and his speed live is something to marvel at. Especially with center ice seats. 

Matthews bests McDavid in Edmonton

[Box Score]

Last night in the Maple Leafs 6-4 win, Auston Matthews tallied his 13th goal and 13th assist. Here is the wrister that made it 1-0 Maple Leafs:



Connor McDavid wasn't without his own theatrics. He scored his 11th goal of the season to tie the game 3-3:



Toronto is 17-9-1. Edmonton is having a much different year at 10-14-2.

Oilers win shocker over Dallas in Edmonton, 5-4!

[Oilers 5, Stars 4]

The Oilers won a shocker in Edmonton over the Stars tonight. Connor McDavid got the Oilers on the board with his 5th goal of the season.

This was after losing a 2-1 Overtime heartbreaker in Pittsburgh.

Connor McPerfect: McDavid records first Hat-Trick in Oilers Opener History

[Box Score]

Connor McDavid is something else, man. He is the talk of the sports world even for fringe hockey fans at this point. Even ESPN has to give alerts on the guy after what he did on opening night in the NHL season at Rogers Center.

Here's a look at his three goals:

2017-2018 Hart Trophy: Bovada Odds

Per a post today at Pro Hockey Talk, the odds to win the Hart Trophy have been posted, with Connor McDavid coming in as the favorite:

2017 – 2018 – Who will win the Hart Memorial Trophy as the NHL’s Most Valuable Player?
Connor McDavid (EDM) 3/2
Sidney Crosby (PIT) 5/2
Auston Matthews (TOR) 17/2
Alex Ovechkin (WAS) 9/1
Patrick Kane (CHI) 14/1
Vladimir Tarasenko (STL) 15/1
Evgeni Malkin (PIT) 16/1
Carey Price (MON) 20/1
John Tavares (NYI) 20/1
Jamie Benn (DAL) 25/1
Steven Stamkos (TB) 25/1
Erik Karlsson (OTT) 33/1
Nikita Kucherov (TB) 33/1
Jack Eichel (BUF) 50/1
Ryan Getzlaf (ANA) 50/1
Patrik Laine (WPG) 50/1
Brad Marchand (BOS) 50/1
Tyler Seguin (DAL) 50/1
Nicklas Backstrom (WAS) 60/1
Brent Burns (SJ) 60/1
Braden Holtby (WAS) 60/1
Phil Kessel (PIT) 60/1
Artemi Panarin (CBJ) 60/1
Joe Pavelski (SJ) 60/1

It is very interesting to note that Auston Matthews checks in at third in the odds.

Connor McDavid Orange Jersey Preorder

Another major want crossed off the list. Although not as big as Auston Matthews. This is a GREAT figure.

McDavid's huge contract sets the stage for Auston Matthews' Extension in Toronto

Really good and thorough read here.

No sooner had the ink dried on Connor McDavid’s eight-year, $100-million contract extension than the hockey world’s attention turned to what it all means for the Toronto Maple Leafs and their own resident superstar, Auston Matthews. We’re all kind of funny that way.

Well, the first order of business might be for the Maple Leafs to send McDavid and his agent, Jeff Jackson, a nice fruit basket as a show of appreciation. By basically being a hockey player and accepting less than a 6th man in the NBA gets per season, and not demanding the maximum amount he could have, McDavid basically set the bar just a little lower, and for that the Maple Leafs can be grateful.

But all the hand wringing really isn’t necessary here. A lot of people are overthinking this one. Because the Leafs can essentially right here, right now, put Auston Matthews down for an eight-year, $100 million contract that kicks in for the 2019-20 season and runs through 2026-27. All the heavy lifting has already been done for him by the Oilers and McDavid’s negotiators.

The basic premise is stated at the beginning of the article. Now that the market has been established, you can expect Matthews to sign an 8-year, $100 Million dollar contract with the Leafs two years from now.

That said, you just hope he's as easy of a negotiation as Connor McDavid was for the Oilers. They are after all, different people.

McDavid Megadeal: How does it Impact Matthews Future Extension?

Connor McDavid is about to sign an 8-year extension with the Edmonton Oilers, north of $100 million. He deserves every penny. He is by all accounts; the greatest thing ever to happen to hockey. The greatest personality, the greatest talent, and just a perfect ambassador for the sport in Canada while playing for the Oilers.

So the next question to be asked: how does this impact Auston Matthews' future contract extension with the Maple Leafs? One can only hope they can sign him to an 8-year extension. My guess is they'll settle on only five. And Matthews may not be as easy to tie down as McDavid was. He's just a different kid.

So you can pretty much mark it down for this time next year: That’s when the Maple Leafs will likely negotiate a contract extension for Auston Matthews that will probably look a lot like McDavid’s deal. Maybe it’ll be a little less generous; Matthews, as spectacular as he is, hasn’t yet shown himself to be in McDavid’s stratosphere. Then again, Matthews has another season to rise. And given his track record so far, it’d be foolish to suggest he doesn’t have it in him.

Either way, he’s going to be expensive. Which only underlines the opportunity staring the Leafs in the face. They’ve got Matthews and Mitch Marner on entry-level deals for two more seasons. That’s an enticing prospect for a team that took a massive competitive leap this past year. It wasn’t just their six-game, five-overtime playoff series with the Presidents’ Trophy-winning Washington Capitals that suggested as much. From Jan. 1 until the regular season’s end, only two Eastern teams — the Capitals and Islanders — compiled more points than the Leafs.

Basically, it's expected that productive veterans will soon be cut loose for cheaper talent so that the Maple Leafs can get ready to make a big offering to Matthews.

The Columbus Blue Jackets have won 16 Games in a Row

[Blue Jackets 3, Oilers 1]

[Jackets Cannon]

The Oilers just didn't have much tonight for the suffocating, mauling Columbus Blue Jackets. I was there to see game number 16 in a row. The streak rolls onward, and the Jackets are now one game from tying the all-time record of 17 wins in a row by the 1992-1993 Pittsburgh Penguins. Unbelievable. 

The Blue Jackets just seem to get stronger as the game goes on instead of folding like they did in the past third periods under different regimes. It's very easy to see if you're there live. 

The Zamboni is doing it's job before the game got started. 

Patrick Maroon had an assist tonight and got into a scuffle. This isn't up on Hockey Fights but I think that Maroon won. 

Connor McDavid had a slow night. He had two breakaways, won three face offs, had two shots on goal, but couldn't log anything else that would show up in the box score. He also had some time in the penalty box. Still great to see his talent live. 

Here's Todd McClellan, who has the Oilers at 19-13-7. 

McDavid serving time in the penalty box. I think it was tripping. The crowd erupted when he entered. 

A better shot of McDavid in the box. 

Seregei Bobrovsky in between the pipes. The guy is on fire right now. He's just not allowing two goals a game during this streak very often. He's a monster. I don't think that the Oilers got 20 shots on him. 

The anthemist, Leo Welsh getting balls deep on the Canadian anthem. He's real good. 

Great shot I got of the jumbotron during the Canadian anthem. 

All in all, a fun night. I wish the Oilers could have snapped the streak. I lost a shitload of money on the Oilers tonight, I thought they would do it. The Blue Jackets are just a monster, devouring everything in their path right now. I think that when you look at the fact they beat the Penguins (second in the NHL right now) 7-1 during this streak and have beaten several teams 10-0 this season, it's a testament to the Oilers only getting beat 3-1. 

My friend Justin and I dined at Mongolian BBQ tonight before the game. Glad to have made my pilgrimmage to Nationwide Arena to see the Oilers like I do each year. Hopefully I get back; maybe I'll go to a playoff game. 

The Edmonton Oilers are 4-1-0

[Box Score]
[Oilers Nation]

The Oilers get so little coverage, I couldn't even find photos of this game worthy of going on the blog. But alas, we've reached a high point in my fandom of the Edmonton Oilers since I started following them in 2010. It was 2011 that they began the season 8-4 and I thought the likes of Taylor Hall, Teddy Peckham and others were onto something. They finished that season 32-40-10. It blended in with all the other Oilers seasons.

But the Oilers have a new feel, a mostly new roster, and a new arena they're defending with an attitude.

Tonight, Connor McDavid refused to go scoreless for a third straight game which he has never done in his career. He set up on a Milan Lucic goal (Lucic's second as an Oiler) to give Edmonton a 2-1 lead and scored an empty netter which leads off this post in the game's final minute to seal the 3-1 win.

The Blues are a solid club to beat, entering the game at 3-0-1.

The Blues only goal was of course, a Nail Yakupov goal to give St. Louis a 1-0 lead. Pitlick scored quickly after that to tie it, and how nice; the Oilers seem to answer scores this season.

At the moment, Edmonton only trails Vancouver in the division standings. They take on the Winnipeg Jets on Saturday in the outdoor Heritage Classic.

Oilers win the first game at Rogers Place 7-4 behind Captain Connor

[Box Score]
[Cult of Hockey]

Connor McDavid had two goals and an assist last night. Milan Lucic got in a fight to defend the Edmonton captain, and the Oilers are 1-0 in their new arena and with McDavid wearing the 'C'.

Here's McDavid's game-winning goal against Brian Elliot on a penalty shot:

Connor McDavid is named the Oilers Captain

McDavid joins a legendary group of #Oilers captains. pic.twitter.com/sizbyIwtsR

— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) October 5, 2016

Connor McDavid has deservingly been named the youngest team captain in NHL History.

Here's the list:

Connor McDavid – 19 years, 266 days
Gabriel Landeskog – 19 years, 286 days
Sidney Crosby – 19 years, 297 days
Vincent Lecavalier – 19 years, 315 days
Jonathan Toews – 20 years, 80 days
Steve Yzerman – 21 years, 151 days
Jim Schoenfeld – 21 years, 362 days

I saw Connor McDavid play live

There's a lot of cool places in this world I haven't been to yet. There's a lot of athletes I'll never see play. But I will live and die knowing I saw Connor McDavid play and score his 13th goal of his career live. Here it was:

Some other notes from the game:

• The head linesman Darren Gibbs got hit with a puck off the stick of Mark Fayne and had to leave the game.
• I caught a Blue Jackets t-shirt. 
• Taylor Hall scored on a powerplay, his 22nd of the season. Connor McDavid on the assist.

• Leon Draisatl had his 17th goal of the season.
• The Oilers gifted three goals back to Columbus within :45 of scoring each of their own. Totally pathetic. 

Connor McDavid: 1, Jack Eichel: 0

[Event Summary]

[Cult of Hockey] [Die by the Blade]

I'm sad I wasn't watching this one on NHL Gamecentre. I missed one of Connor McDavid's first true great moments. 

He opened up scoring with his quickest goal to open a game in his career. Just :22 into the ballgame, McDavid got his 11th goal of the season on a little backhander. It looked easy. 

Then in overtime with about 80 seconds left before a shootout, Jack Eichel missed the Oilers goal. McDavid gets the puck at the bottom of the screen and decided to use his speed; his finest tool, to take the game and deliver it to the Oilers.



It was McDavid's second goal of the night, the game-winner in OT; and his 12th of the season. Clearly, the guy has the edge over a fine young player in Jack Eichel.

In what is shaping up to be another miserable season for the 24-34-7 Oilers, McDavid did all the work and delivered the Oilers a win in Buffalo.

Connor McDavid's first Five-Point Game

[Event Summary]

[Cult of Hockey]

Connor McDavid notched his first five-point game of his young career, and his eighth and ninth goals of his rookie season in a 5-2 Oilers win against the team that felt it was their given right to have him. 

The night was special because he set up Jordan Eberle three times for Eberle's first hat-trick of his career. 

Goal #1


Goal #2 (One of the first real shots I've seen him score on)


The Oilers lost a few tough games since this one. But this will no doubt go down of the first HUGE game of McDavid's career and it came against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Connor McDavid returns in Edmonton with a Goal

[Event Summary]

[Cult of Hockey] [CBC] [NHL.com]

You just knew it was coming last night. When it was announced that Connor McDavid would make his return against the Columbus Blue Jackets, you knew he was going to do something dramatic. That's the way he is. 

He scored his sixth goal of the season, possibly his most jaw-dropping one yet in his career; and it ripped the roof off Rexall place as the Oilers won the game 5-1 and took a 2-1 lead on the McDavid score tally.

He also added two other assists, which is a pretty common occurrence/just another night at the office for McJesus. The Oilers sit at 20-26-5 and have to keep it going to get back in things. It's great to see McDavid back on the ice at full speed and continuing his magical rookie year just as he was before he got hurt.

Connor McDavid is progressing from injury more quickly than expected

Man, it's great to hear this. I will soon have a reason to follow hockey again closely.

Though no one would offer a firm date for McDavid’s return, at this rate the betting is that he could be back in the Edmonton Oilers lineup in mid-to-late January, rather than the early March return originally forecasted by the team.

“He’s ahead of schedule,” Oilers GM Peter Chiarelli confirmed from Detroit on Thursday. “He’s been in the pool, been lifting weights… There are no soft tissue injuries, which is important. When you get a break like that, oftentimes there is accompanying soft tissue injuries. That slows down the recovery.”

The Oilers are playing right now against the Pittsburgh Penguins and holding a surprising lead. I am in New Jeresy and ready to head back to Ohio and get back into the groove of following the Oilers each night.

I want this card

Connor McDavid Upper Deck Young Guns. It's the sports card of the year. Now, does anyone have $300 I can borrow?