Connor McDavid would not have a lot time to delight in his 4 Nations Face-Off glory.
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After scoring the successful aim for Canada in Thursday night time’s championship sport in opposition to the USA, McDavid is again on the ice Saturday afternoon when the Edmonton Oilers go to the Philadelphia Flyers.
The NHL took a two-week break to permit for the inaugural event between Canada, the U.S., Sweden and Finland. McDavid put the exclamation level on a memorable occasion together with his additional time tally within the title sport one of many signature moments of his glowing hockey profession.
“Obviously, it means a lot to our group,” McDavid stated. “I think a lot of people were wondering what this tournament would mean to guys, and obviously you can see what it means to everyone on our side. It was really exciting.”
Now, McDavid will flip his consideration to getting the Oilers again to the Stanley Cup Closing. They reached Sport 7 final 12 months earlier than arising quick in opposition to the Florida Panthers.
Edmonton received two straight additional time video games earlier than falling to the Colorado Avalanche, 5-4, in its ultimate contest earlier than the break on Feb. 7. Leon Draisaitl and Corey Perry every scored twice to arrange a 4-4 sport going into the third interval earlier than Calvin Pickard allowed the decisive aim with beneath 5 minutes remaining.
“We’re preparing the same way. We’re looking to play a tight game. That’s our identity,” Draisaitl stated. “So it’s not going to change. But obviously, we didn’t do that today. Too much offense given and it’s just not a great loss for us.”
The Oilers have 27 video games left as they start a five-game highway journey up and down the East Coast. Edmonton has a looming stretch with robust highway video games in opposition to Washington, Tampa Bay, Florida and Carolina 4 of the highest six groups within the East however first is a matchup versus Philadelphia.
The Flyers had misplaced seven of eight earlier than successful their ultimate sport earlier than the break. Samuel Ersson made 31 saves and Travis Konecny notched a aim and an help in a 3-2 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Feb. 8.
“It was huge. It changes your mindset completely,” Konecny stated after that win. “We didn’t play a perfect game. We could have done a lot of things differently. But ‘Ers’ helped us out a ton. That gives us some confidence going into the break here.”
Konecny was a part of Group Canada, though he was a wholesome scratch in Thursday’s title sport. Ersson was among the many goaltenders for Sweden.
“It’s big for me, obviously, to not just be a part of the tournament but to also get a game and get to play,” Ersson stated. “It was very fun and a big experience for me.”
That is the second and ultimate assembly between Edmonton and Philadelphia this season. The Oilers held off the Flyers 4-3 on Oct. 15 as Draisaitl scored the winner in additional time, punctuating his workforce’s comeback from an early 2-0 deficit.
McDavid has registered some extent in 11 consecutive video games in opposition to Philadelphia. He has 11 objectives and 22 assists in 16 profession video games in opposition to the Flyers.
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