Video game simulations help keep us sane
Only 12 days have passed since sports world temporarily closed — it feels like 12 weeks
Some things never change. Even in a pixelated world.
There was a minute left in the third period and Toronto was nursing a 1-0 goal lead against Florida on Monday, when Maple Leafs defenceman Cody Ceci had his cross-ice pass picked off for a breakaway by Jonathan Huberdeau.
Just like that, the Panthers forward was in all alone on goalie Frederik Andersen with a chance to tie up the game. Huberdeau deked left. And then he deked right. And then he went to his backhand and lifted the puck toward the net, which Andersen tracked right into his glove hand. Game over.
Thanks to Andersen, who stopped 32 of 33 shots as well as a two-goal effort from Kasperi Kapanen and a couple of empty-net goals from Pierre Engvall and Morgan Rielly, the Leafs hung on for a 4-1 win.
“Coaches love these,” colour commentator Ray Ferraro said following the game. “The best part is when you go back to the locker-room, everyone feels like they played a part.”
It was a big win. Maybe the biggest of the season. And, unfortunately for the Leafs and for hockey fans, it all happened in the EA Sports video game I was playing. With the NHL having paused its season because of the spreading coronavirus, I decided to grab my
PS4 controller on Monday and simulate what we’ve missed ever since the league locked its doors on March 12. Apparently, I’m not the only one.
Last Thursday, EA Sports streamed simulations of the five games that had been postponed that night. Devils goalie Cory Schneider, who’s avatar stopped 98 of 102 shots in the 6-4 win against the Flames, was even interviewed afterwards on the team’s website. “There’s games where you gotta give a lot of credit to your teammates,” he said. “Tonight probably wasn’t one of them with 98 saves. Think we know where that stands.”
On Tuesday, the Washington Capitals will stream an EA Sports’ NHL 20 simulation of their postponed game against the St. Louis Blues. “We hope that these fun and engaging video game simulations will entertain our fans and help provide a greater sense of normalcy during these challenging times,” said Zach Leonsis, senior vice-president of strategic initiatives at Monumental Sports & Entertainment and general manager of Monumental Sports Network. Hey, we all need a distraction. Only 12 days have gone by since the sporting world temporarily shut down. But with most of us quarantined to our homes with nothing to watch or argue over, it’s felt more like 12 weeks — especially when you consider how many games have been put on hold.
As of Tuesday, the NBA had postponed 88 of its games. The NHL was up to 93 games. That’s a lot of hockey. It’s also a lot of possibilities in a league where the crowded standings seem to shift on a nightly basis.
Monday was supposed to be a particularly busy night in the NHL, with Toronto playing Florida in a game that could have had serious playoff implications, as well as Vegas hosting Vancouver and Colorado battling Minnesota. Edmonton, Calgary and Columbus, meanwhile, had chances at picking up an easy two points in the standings with games against non-playoff teams.
What would the conversation be like today if the Leafs had won? Would we be talking about Andersen had refound his game or how Auston Matthews was deserving of a Hart Trophy vote? How about if they lost and failed to put any distance between them and the Panthers for the final playoff spot in the Atlantic Division?
Winnipeg, which had a twopoint lead on Vancouver for one of the final wild card spots in the West when the NHL went on hiatus, should have played five times since hockey then. The Canucks, meanwhile, have had seven games put on ice.
In that time, it’s possible that both teams could have switched places two, three or even four times. It’s also possible that both could be in the playoffs — or out of the playoffs depending on what might have transpired in the last week.
Would the slumping Dallas
Stars, who are ranked third in the Central Division but also mired in a six-game losing streak, be on the outside looking in today? How about the Pittsburgh Penguins, who headed into the hiatus on a 3-8-0 run and clinging to a playoff spot with only six points separating themselves from the ninth-place Islanders?
The Leafs have had six games postponed since March 12. That’s six games where Matthews, who is stuck on 47 goals, might have reached the 50-goal mark. Six games where they could have widened the gap between themselves and the Panthers for the final playoff spot in the Atlantic Division. Or six games where their playoff hopes might have been dashed.
A lot could have happened. A lot could have changed. And, in the video game world, a lot did.
In the six games that I simulated, Toronto got hot and went 4-02. Matthews scored his 50th goal — along with his 51st and 52nd — as the Leafs further distanced themselves from the Panthers.
It’s just a video game. It’s obviously not real or a predictor of things to come.
And yet, for now, it might be the closest thing to reality we have until life returns to normal. mtraikos@postmedia.com Twitter.com/Michael_Traikos