On Tap For Today — Calgary at New Jersey; 7:00 pm EDT; SN1, MSG+ | Tampa Bay at Pittsburgh; 7:00 pm EDT; TVAS, ATTSN-PT, BSSUN | Vegas at Colorado; 6:00 pm MDT; ESPN | San Jose at Nashville; 7:30 pm CDT; ESPN+, HULU | Minnesota at Vancouver; 7:00 pm PDT; SN1, BSN, BSWI | Winnipeg at Anaheim; 7:00 pm PDT; BSSC, BSSD, TSN3 | Montreal at Seattle; 7:00 pm PDT; ROOT-NW, TSN2, RDS
Last Night’s News 📰
TWO FOR THE PRICE OF ONE: By the conclusion of the Washington Capitals/Ottawa Senators game, a player from each team had scored a hat trick. TJ Oshie recorded his first hat trick of the season prior to the end of the second period. It is his first hat trick since his first game back after his father passed away in May. Drake Batherson scored a goal in each period to earn the first hat trick of his career but was unable to do enough to earn Ottawa the win.
PURSUIT OF PERFECTION: With three of the remaining four unbeaten teams in action on Monday, the stage was set for another team to earn its first loss of the season. However, the Florida Panthers, Carolina Hurricanes, and St. Louis Blues all held to their winning ways, keeping their undefeated seasons intact.
AM-200: Auston Matthews tallied his first goal of the 2021-22 NHL season, the 200th of his career in just 338 games played. Matthews became the fastest player to score 200 goals since Alex Ovechkin accomplished the feat in 2009, scoring his 200th goal in his 296th game.
CONTINUING THE CONVERSATION: Colin Wilson, formerly of the Nashville Predators and Colorado Avalanche, published a piece in The Players Tribune on Monday about his struggles with addiction. Wilson, who wrote about his life with OCD last year, wanted to set the record straight and continue the conversation in the wake of Jimmy Hayes’ passing.
OLYMPIC TUNE-UP: Sarah Fillier scored the game-winner with 3:58 remaining in the third period as Team Canada beat the US for the second time in a row during the two teams’ seven-game, pre-Olympic series. Fillier, who turned 21 in June, has nine points in nine games since making her debut with Team Canada in August.
Trivia Tuesday
How well do you know the Edmonton Oilers?
- How many jersey numbers have been retired by the Edmonton Oilers?
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- Who is the only Oilers’ coach to have won the Jack Adams Award?
- Glen Sather
- Todd McLellan
- Ken Hitchcock
- John Muckler
- How many first-overall NHL Draft picks has Edmonton had since 1979?
- 7
- 6
- 4
- 3
Answers can be found at the bottom of the email.
Carolina Troll Jobs
The Carolina Hurricanes have opened the season 5-0-0 as they attempt to reach the playoffs for a fourth straight year. However, for as good as these Canes have been in recent years, it’s their fun-loving identity built on the old “Storm Surge” celebration and a social media presence that pulls few punches that have popularized them across the world.
On Monday night, the organization was back at it again, welcoming the Toronto Maple Leafs to PNC Arena (they won 4-1) by inviting legendary emergency backup goaltender (EBUG) David Ayres to sound the ceremonial pre-game siren. Surely the timing of the honor and Carolina’s opposition were a coincidence, right?
It’s hardly the Hurricanes’ first foray into troll jobs. Here’s how they’ve successfully messed with rivals in the past:
Ayres Apparent
Ayres became enough of an overnight sensation that Carolina fans would’ve surely embraced his return in any circumstance. Of course, the “Bunch of Jerks” waited until it was against Toronto, the losers during Ayres’ surprise goaltending debut two seasons ago, on the other side of the ice.
LOL “JK”
We’ll see if Jesperi Kotkaniemi can actually prove his worth at $6.1 million, but Carolina’s savage offer sheet for the former Montreal Canadiens forward was equal parts funny and effective. They have only doubled down ever since, creating a website to troll the Habs (which was later hacked) and prodding Montreal throughout Thursday’s 4-1 win via social media.
Predatory Behavior
Apparently ousting a team in the playoffs isn’t enough for Carolina. After toppling the Nashville Predators in six games in their first-round series last spring, the Hurricanes added insult to injury, trolling their vanquished foes through the use of a local Instagram-friendly spot downtown and a send-up of Nashville’s infamous 2018 Presidents’ Trophy banner.
Masking Up
In ice hockey, it is widely known that goaltenders tend to be more unique and creative in their equipment design. There are more significant opportunities for artists to design masks and pads that will stand out on the ice. When it comes to the NHL level, there are countless examples of netminders taking their game to the next level regarding the artistry on their masks.
Andrei Vasilevskiy – Present
Current Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender, Andrei Vasilevskiy, has changed his mask designs throughout the years but has built around a common theme in his more recent ones. A lion fading into the middle of the helmet, which according to the designer Sylvie Marsolais, pays homage to his nickname “Big Cat.” Based on the hard work he puts into his game, Vasilevskiy’s helmet showcases his identity as one of the best goalies in the world.
John Gibson – 2014
Gibson started his career with the Anaheim Ducks and a fresh mask to wear during the 2014-15 season when he appeared poised to take over as the franchise’s next star goalie. His mask showcased the 1980 videogame Space Invaders, which featured the animated UFOs and an “Alien Duck” on the sides and down the middle. Since his rookie season, Gibson has changed it up with his masks, but this one will always be remembered as a classic.
Petr Mrázek – 2016
Flashing back to his days with the Detroit Red Wings, Mrázek put in the effort to make his mask fit into the holly jolly spirit in Dec. 2016. The green painted mask featured Will Ferrel’s Elf character on the left ear, along with a Christmas tree and decorations placed throughout the design. In terms of uniqueness and creativity, this is one of the best designs in NHL history and will not be soon forgotten.
Trivia Answers
- 7 Numbers – Kevin Lowe’s #4 will be the 8th on Nov. 5
- Glen Sather
- 4 No. 1 Selections
Click here for more Edmonton Oilers trivia!
