Oilers win as Connor McDavid show comes to Saskatoon

Saskatchewan came for Connor McDavid, and number 97 delivered. The Edmonton Oilers captain was electric with two goals and an assist in a 4-0 win over the Carolina Hurricanes Wednesday night at SaskTel Centre.

While technically a home game for Carolina, the arena was filled with over 10-thousand people mostly decked out in Oilers blue and orange.

“It’s special,” McDavid said post game. “It’s so nice to see the love for the Oilers everywhere we go and the fans are so passionate.”

Plenty of Connor love in Saskatoon! pic.twitter.com/04WwZfuFR9

— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) September 28, 2017

And many at the game turned out specifically to see McDavid play live. The pro-Oilers crowd ‘oohed’ and ‘aahed’ every time the reigning NHL MVP touched the puck, though they had to wait until the third period for the real magic.

McDavid scored on a shorthanded breakaway with 9:30 remaining in the contest. Just over a minute later, McDavid flipped the puck to beat the Carolina defenseman, and batted it out of the air past Cam Ward for his second of the night.

McDavid’s 2nd goal was something to behold. pic.twitter.com/xdNqfinKvl

— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) September 28, 2017

“People respect him for the player he is and the performance he puts on,” said Oilers Head Coach Todd McLellan.

“It would have been easy for him to go through the motions but that’s not the type of player he is, he wants to lead his team and shows up every day.”

Zach Kassian and Milan Lucic had the other Oilers goals, both in the first period.

Laurent Brossoit was stellar in net for Edmonton, turning aside all 30 shots he faced, including a second period where Edmonton was outshot 13-4.

“It is nice to come in and have another province that considers us their home team,” Brossoit said. “It feels nice to go in there and be able to stay focused throughout.”

The game was also a homecoming of sorts on and off the ice. Edmonton defenseman Eric Gryba hails from Saskatoon and head coach Todd McLellan is from Melville. McLellan also played four seasons for the Saskatoon Blades.

On Carolina, goalie Cam Ward was born in the Bridge City and spent parts of his childhood there. Defenseman Haydn Fleury calls Carlyle, Sask. home.

Both teams close out their respective pre-seasons on Friday. The Oilers visit Vancouver, the Hurricanes are at home to Washington.