Yesterday’s Games
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Last Night’s News 📰
McDAVID’S DIGS: After Connor McDavid signed an eight-year deal with the Edmonton Oilers in 2017, he decided to build his dream house near the North Saskatchewan River valley. Along with girlfriend Lauren Kyle and their dog Lenard, the McDavid family invited Architectural Digest in for a tour of their three-story home, which features an elevator, hot tub patio, and movie theater.
SECOND STREAK SNAPPED: Speaking of McDavid, for the first time this season, he was held off the scoresheet on Tuesday night against the Dallas Stars. McDavid had recorded at least one point in each of the Oilers’ first 17 games, tying Henrik Zetterberg (2007-08) and Dave Andreychuk (1992-93) for the eighth-longest point streak to start an NHL season.
HOUSE OF BRODEUR: Martin Brodeur knows a thing or two about games played, wins, and shutouts, and now he is trying his hand in—fashion? That’s right, the New Jersey Devils officially unveiled the first-ever third jersey in franchise history and announced that the Hall of Famer had his hand in designing the “Jersey.”
A Motown Tradition
Any NFL fan can tell you that Thanksgiving Day means the Detroit Lions will lose—I mean—host a 12:30 p.m. football game, a tradition that dates back to 1934. Detroit’s NHL counterpart, the Red Wings, have their own less widely known tradition, a home game on Thanksgiving Eve. Since 1995, the Wings sport an impressive 13-4-2 record when hosting the night before turkey day.
In celebration of this annual rite that has carried over from Joe Louis Arena to Little Caesars Arena, let’s look at some of Detroit’s best Thanksgiving Eve games as the Wings welcome the St. Louis Blues to town.
Nov. 27, 1996 – Def. TOR 5-2
During the 1996-97 season that led to the Wings’ first Stanley Cup championship in 42 years and the first of back-to-back titles, Detroit cruised to a 5-2 victory over their Original Six rival, the Toronto Maple Leafs. Ironically, most of the damage was done by current Leafs president Brendan Shanahan, who notched a hat trick.
Nov. 27, 2002 – Def. NJD 3-2 (OT)
Talk about a game that had it all. A Detroit team that stood as the reigning Stanley Cup champs (the third triumph in six years) against a New Jersey Devils squad about to win its third Cup in nine years. Curtis Joseph versus Martin Brodeur in a battle of goaltending greats. It’s only fitting that the two clubs went to overtime, with Kris Draper closing things out 1:55 into the extra frame.
Nov. 26, 2003 – Def. EDM 7-1
No overtime was needed one year later when the Red Wings paid homage to their football-playing Detroit brethren by putting a touchdown on the board against the Edmonton Oilers. A lineup that featured five Hall of Famers (six once Pavel Datsyuk gets inducted) cruised, with six players registering a multi-point night. The blowout victory sparked a four-game win streak in which the Wings crushed their opponents 22-4.
What I’m Thankful For – Pacific Division
The leaves are gently falling to the ground and people are beginning to plan their Thanksgiving meal. Those are all indicators that it’s time to reflect and think about what you’re grateful for. Every Wednesday leading up to American Thanksgiving, we will discuss what each team is thankful for, continuing with the Pacific Division.
Anaheim Ducks: Troy Terry and the Ducks youth movement are putting Anaheim back on the map. Terry’s impressive 16-game point streak helped propel the Ducks to third in the division, and it looks like a new era is beginning at the Honda Center. The rookies aren’t the only ones in the spotlight, as Ryan Getzlaf is still hitting milestones at 36 years old. It is great to see the beginning of one chapter while simultaneously celebrating the ending of another.
Calgary Flames: Calgary needs to be thankful for its impressive start to the season and the complete team effort fans have seen so far. The Flames arguably have one of the best goaltending tandems in the league and have multiple forwards who are on pace for career seasons. They are currently at the top of the division, and I guess they can say teamwork makes the dream work.
Edmonton Oilers: Since the 2015-16 season, the Oilers and their fans have been thankful for Connor McDavid. He is the gift that keeps on giving and has already scored two goals this season that will be discussed and replayed for decades to come. He is a modern-day Maximus, whose tagline at Rogers Place should be “are you not entertained?” The answer is yes, yes we are.
Los Angeles Kings: It seems like yesterday the Kings were putting together their own little dynasty. Key players during that time were Jonathan Quick and Drew Doughty, and it seems like they are still leading the way for this team. Quick successfully turned back time and is once again one of the top goalies in the league, while Doughty is currently on track to return to the ice earlier than expected from his injury. LA is more than thankful for the veterans on its roster.
San Jose Sharks: Players are finally coming off the COVID-19 protocol, with Marc-Édouard Vlasic, Erik Karlsson, and Kevin Labanc, along with head coach Bob Boughner returning, as seven players and three staff members have been cleared by the league. This good news is arriving at the perfect time, and even though the Sharks aren’t the top fish in the Pacific, there is plenty of time to change the tides.
Seattle Kraken: Frankly, it’s tough to be thankful when you’re at the bottom of the league, but at least they are in the league. Seattle has only played 18 games, and when you’re at the bottom, there is nowhere to go but up. In the meantime, the Kraken can relish the fact that they have the best jersey in the league.
Vancouver Canucks: The answer to what the Canucks are thankful for is quite simple. From the players to the coaches, all the way up to the front office, they should all be thankful for their jobs. Things are going off the rails for the Canucks, as their record stands at 6-11-2. Their 14 points have them 27th in the league, and things will be changing if the team can’t turn this around. For now, let’s be thankful for a paycheck and dinner on the table.
Vegas Golden Knights: I think everyone in the hockey world is thankful the Golden Knights successfully ended the Jack Eichel saga. Multiple parties should be giving Vegas a shout-out before they cut into their Thanksgiving turkey, starting with the Buffalo Sabres. This trade was a win-win for most, if not everyone, involved. I know I’ll be acknowledging the Golden Knights on Thursday.
Top-3 Team Canada Jerseys
Late Tuesday night, Hockey Canada revealed its jerseys for the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, and it was controversial, to say the least. The maple leaf on the crest seems off, with the logo looking compressed and the color selection bolder than previous sweaters. In the past, the black jerseys have proven to be a terrific option at international tournaments, so one might expect those to look better on the players than they do in the photos. However, let’s look back on three jerseys that did work for Team Canada.
2015 – World Juniors
When Connor McDavid played lights out on a line with Max Domi and Anthony Duclair at the 2015 IIHF World Junior Championship, they did so in style. Known as the “100-year jersey,” the sweater showcased the word “Canada” diagonally down the crest, with red and black being used as the primary colors. It was a unique look that still holds up to this day.
1972 – Summit Series
For one of the greatest events in Canadian history, it is fitting that the jerseys used were such classics and cannot be outdone. Using red and white as the only two colors makes it stand out even more, and the maple leaf outline is a great design that pays homage to the country’s heritage. There was no doubt that any player wearing this jersey was a part of the Canadian team.
2002 – Winter Olympics
Joe Sakic scored one of the greatest goals in Team Canada’s history, backed up by a terrific call from play-by-play commentator Bob Cole, and it was a perfect moment. When Canada won the gold medal in Salt Lake City, their jerseys featured a Hockey Canada logo that was simplistic, but clean and classy. Sometimes, finding what works and then building on it is the best option, and these jerseys are evidence of that.
Today’s Games
