New York. The Edmonton Oilers are a real threat this year.
Last night, they were only the third team this season to defeat Boston at the TD Garden – without Connor McDavid scoring any points.
“We’re constantly talking about the fact that we can beat anyone in the league and tonight we showed that too,” says hero Darnell Nurse after the 3-2 victory.
Prior to last night’s events, Seattle and Washington were the only guest teams to have beaten the Boston Bears at the TD Garden, and at first it looked like Edmonton’s fate would be the same as most others.
Bard Marchand made it 1-0 less than four minutes later, and scorer David Pasternak added it 2-0 later in the first period.
‘Like a playoff’
But the visitors from Alberta refused to budge. They worked like slaves in the kitchen and were eventually rewarded for it. Yvan Bouchard pulled one back midway through the first half, assisted by Matthias Janmarck, Ryan McLeod equalized six minutes after half-time and with less than five minutes remaining, Darnell Nurse made it 3-2 behind Jeremy Swaiman.
We are a very confident team and we constantly talk about the fact that we can beat anyone in this league. Talking is one thing and another, says Nurse, and we really showed it tonight.
Of course, coach Jay Woodcroft is also pleased – especially since his team managed to save two points without passing top scorer Conor McDavid, who left no mark on the log.
– This used to be a playoff and in playoff matches it happens that the best players take each other. Then others have to step up, and that’s what happened tonight, he says.