EXCITEMENT BUILDS AS OILERS OPEN SEASON
Fans have great expectations for team that emerged last year as Cup contender
Wayne Gretzky picked up on it right off the bat.
Last year, on this day, Gretzky joined the organization as vicechairman in the morning and participated in the grand opening ceremonies of Rogers Place in the evening.
“Last year, it was a different kind of excitement, more tied to the building. Last year they were just hoping they were going to be back in the playoffs,” Gretzky said. “This year there are expectations. But there’s real excitement with those expectations.”
The 38th NHL season in Edmonton included a real City of Champions moment as Saturday night’s terrorism hero, Const. Michael Chernyk stood with police chief Rod Knecht for the national anthem with “We stand united” ringing the rink.
There were no question about the anticipation as the crowd, which had amused themselves through the pre-season pretending that all the breaks were CISN Kissin’ Cam breaks, brought a buzz into the building before acrobats performed while suspended by wires hanging from the ceiling. They didn’t try to replicate the playoff scene from last year, but there is no doubting the excitement in the building.
It was there at practice the day before and in the words emanating from the morning skate.
“My palms are sweating already,” coach Todd McLellan said at his pre-game press gathering.
“It’s a big game already, honestly. Divisional points are huge,” captain Connor McDavid said.
“I think Calgary will be the first to tell you that losing all the games against us last year really hurt them in the playoff push.”
It was only 45 seconds into the game when Hart Trophy winner and league scoring champion McDavid broke in with a breakaway.
When he made it 1-0 at 11:01 on a Leon Draisaitl rebound, the crowd started chanting “MVP! MVP! MVP!”
There was a lot of game left when Gretzky, sitting in the building with his dad Walter, told your correspondent he likes everything he sees around this team.
“It’s going to be an exciting time in Edmonton. This team is well coached and they’re going to work hard to earn everything.
“I think it’s a good thing to have pressure on them now. It’s good that they all know that teams are going to be fired up when they play them. They know it’s going to be there. I think they’re going to love it,” he said of using the knowledge to avoid letdowns.
Oilers Entertainment Group CEO and vice-chairman Bob Nicholson said that, no matter how the opener turned out, he would be sitting in Rogers Place feeling great confidence in the season ahead.
“We have more experience and a lot more depth,” he said as the Oilers outshot the Flames 16-11 in the first period and, shock of all shocks, held a 73 per cent to 27 per cent advantage in the faceoff circle.
“I think getting into the playoffs, and going two rounds in the playoffs, is really going to show itself in the regular season,” said the formed head of Hockey Canada.
“There are new expectations within the group now. It’s not the same. I expect them to go through the whole season to show that they deserve to have those expectations.
“These guys want the fans to have expectations.”
If the Oilers are to meet or beat last season’s 103-point performance, they’re going to have to repeat some of the accomplishments of 2016-17, one of which was having a lot of nice days in the neighbourhood.
The Oilers went 11-0-1 against Western Canada rivals Calgary, Vancouver and Winnipeg.
With that in mind, Edmonton’s first three games of this season are against the Flames, Canucks and Jets.