NHL: 4 things to know for Wednesday night
After a busy night, there are only three NHL games on the docket Wednesday night.
Here’s what you need to know:
Leafs, Senators postponed
First, some sobering news. The game between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Senators that was scheduled for 7 p.m. ET in Ottawa has been postponed, the National Hockey League announced. A gunman opened fire this morning at the National War Memorial not far Parliament Hill, leaving one soldier dead. The league will announce the rescheduled game at a later date.
Make it 2?
Can the Oilers make it two in a row? After enduring a horrendous 0-4-1 start in which the Oilers allowed at least five goals in four of five games, Edmonton looks to keep it going on home ice against the Washington Capitals. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins broke a 2-2 tie with 3:25 left as the Oilers defeated Tampa Bay on Monday. The highlight of the night came from Taylor Hall, who beat Lightning goalie Ben Bishop for a goal on a penalty shot.
Oilers goaltender Ben Scrivens is expected to get the start in net. In two starts against the Capitals, Scrivens is 1-1-0 with a 3.53 GAA. But beating the Capitals won’t be easy, especially when your opposition is a motivated Alex Ovechkin. The Capitals sniper sits at 820 career NHL point and is only five behind Peter Bondra on the team’s all-time ranking. The Capitals (3-0-2) are the only Eastern Conference team that hasn’t tasted a regulation loss to this point.
Penguins to pay tribute to Ottawa
In light of the shootings in Ottawa, the Penguins will pay tribute before the game with the playing of the Canadian national anthem before the "Star-Spangled Banner" even though two American teams are playing at Consol Energy Center.
Leave it to Sidney Crosby to add fuel to the rivalry between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Philadelphia Flyers. At a team Halloween part this past weekend, Crosby dressed up as Rocky Balboa, only the most beloved fictional character in Philadelphia. Some in the City of Brotherly Love were not amused by Sid’s choice of costume.
Still, Crosby and the Penguins (3-1-0) are off to a great start. Crosby has already posted nine points in four games. A big reason for Pittsburgh’s surge has been its power play. The Penguins are converting at a league-high 47.1 rate (8-17, 16 goals). Crosby, the reigning Hart Trophy winner, leads the way with six points on the power player. Both special team units were on full display during the team’s 3-1 win over the New York Islanders on Saturday. The Penguins killed off seven New York penalties, including a 5-on-3, and scored two power-play goals by Evgeni Malkin and Patric Hornqvist in a span of 55 seconds.
The Flyers (1-3-2) are hoping their dominance on Pittsburgh’s home ice will jumpstart a terrible stretch. Philadelphia is 11-3-0, including playoffs, when facing the Penguins in Pittsburgh. The biggest obstacle for the Flyers has been avoiding another sluggish start as eight of the 23 non-shootout goals they've allowed have come in the first period — including six in the past three games.
Sabres fans want McDavid
After a season-opening loss, the Anaheim Ducks have exploded for five straight victories. A sixth seems more than possible as the Ducks welcome the Buffalo Sabres (1-5-0) to California. How are Sabres fans coping with the losing? Let top-rated prospect Connor McDavid tell it from his prospective.
"Whenever the Sabres lose, my Twitter just kind of blows up with fans kind of talking about me and stuff like that. It goes beyond social media." Some fans have already had "McDavid 97" Sabres jerseys made up and wear them to games that he's not even eligible to play in.
