Canada Sports News

Who should start in net for Oilers in Game 4?

SportsNets - Mon, 05/13/2024 - 18:12

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Blue Jays’ Berrios lasers dropped strike for wild inning-ending play

SportsNets - Mon, 05/13/2024 - 18:05

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Categories: Canada Sports News, Ontario Sports News, Pro Sports News

Canucks vs. Oilers, Game 4 (home)

SportsNets - Mon, 05/13/2024 - 17:57

Categories: Canada Sports News, Ontario Sports News, Pro Sports News

Though Soucy will be missed, Canucks’ defence can withstand one-game suspension

SportsNets - Mon, 05/13/2024 - 17:52

EDMONTON — The last time Carson Soucy was suspended for hitting someone named Conor in the head, it barely registered around the National Hockey League.

It was during the 2021 pandemic season in Arizona, which literally instead of just figuratively had no fans, when Soucy was playing for the Minnesota Wild and was assessed a major penalty for elbowing Coyote Conor Garland.

The NHL suspended Soucy for one game. Even Garland, now Soucy’s teammate on the Vancouver Canucks, barely remembers the incident.

Soucy’s cross-check to the throat Sunday night on Edmonton Oilers megastar Connor McDavid was a little different.

At the end of a full-throttle playoff game, part of the swirl of a fierce all-Canadian series that has the Canucks leading the prohibitively-favoured Oilers after Vancouver’s 4-3 win on Sunday, Soucy’s cross-check during a scrum after the final buzzer was the talk of the country on Monday.

The NHL Department of Player Safety’s hearing and subsequent judgement of a one-game suspension received more legal debate than the first of Donald Trump’s criminal trials in the U.S.

Soucy, a second-pairing defenceman who has been frequently matched against McDavid and fellow megastar Leon Drainsaitl, will miss Game 4 on Tuesday. Fortunately, McDavid declared himself fine on Monday and the Oilers, truly, should have much bigger concerns that avenging one dangerous play in a series that has been filled with them — both ways.

“If you can see after,” Soucy told reporters earlier Monday of the post-buzzer skirmish, “(I am) kind of just almost apologizing, like I said, that I didn’t mean to get him up that high. He obviously was pretty fired up because it looks bad, obviously, probably felt bad. But ultimately, I was just like, ‘Hey, there was no intent to get you up that high.’ Just emotions run high in those scrums at the end of the game.”

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After McDavid escalated the scrum with a two-handed slash across Soucy’s legs in response to a shove, Canuck defenceman Nikita Zadorov cross-checked the Oiler from behind. McDavid’s head lowered as he fell forward, causing Soucy’s subsequent cross-check to contact the NHL’s best player in the neck and face instead of his chest.

The league announced Monday morning a $5,000 fine to Zadorov and a phone hearing with Soucy, a prerequisite to suspension. The one-game ban Soucy received for elbowing Garland three years ago is the only other suspension of his seven-season professional career.

Cross-checked in the head during Sunday’s scrum by Oiler Zach Hyman, who received no supplementary discipline from the NHL, Zadorov declined Monday to speak to reporters.

“Forty days of silence,” he claimed. “Or maybe one day.”

But Soucy faced the media and was ready to face the consequences of his actions.

“Ultimately, it’s up to them,” he said a couple of hours before the NHL ruled against him. “I respect their decision.

“Like I said, there was just no intent to get him up that high. Whatever happened that split-second was just kind of unfortunate.

“Yeah, it would suck (to be suspended) at this time, in a tight series like this, in a physical series. I know guys will step up if that is the case. But, yeah, it sucks having to watch your team.”

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With Canucks Nation still howling about McDavid’s unpenalized high stick that punctured Vancouver captain Quinn Hughes’ cheek in Game 2, in which McDavid and Draisaitl each registered four points in a 4-3 Edmonton win, the Soucy incident and the NHL Department of Player Safety’s intervention brings back uncomfortable memories of the 2011 Stanley Cup Final.

The Canucks were halfway to what would have been the franchise’s only Stanley Cup when defenceman Aaron Rome stepped up in the neutral zone early in Game 3 and knocked out Boston Bruin forward Nathan Horton with a shoulder to the head. The hit was two seconds late.

The NHL, whose player-safety department was then overseen by the father of Bruin fourth-liner Gregory Campbell, innovatively suspended Rome for the remainder of the championship series. The Canucks were already without injured top-pairing defenceman Dan Hamhuis.

The incident was the turning point in the final, a catapult for the Bruins, who battered and bullied the Canucks, mostly with impunity, for the rest of their seven-game win. Some reporters, including from this country, derided the Canucks as “whiners” and “fakers” and called them the most dislikable team in Canada.

But the Canucks allowed themselves to become victims in that series. That won’t happen against the Oilers, regardless of how this mesmerizing Stanley Cup quarterfinal ends.

The Canucks may miss Soucy, even if abrasive Noah Juulsen is a capable seventh defenceman ready to go into the lineup. But they will not be bullied or physically overpowered as the team was 13 years ago.

They’re leading the Oilers 2-1 with their third-string goalie, Arturs Silovs, so missing a second-pairing defenceman from an otherwise healthy blue line for one game isn’t going to buckle them mentally.

The Canucks have been the more physical team, and the more intimidating one in front of their goal. Everyone can see now why general manager Patrik Allvin rebuilt the Vancouver defence the way he did, signing free agents Soucy (six-foot-five and 208 pounds) and Ian Cole (6’1, 225) and trading for Zadorov (6’6, 248) to join Tyler Myers (6’8, 229), the only other blue-line holdover besides Hughes.

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“I don’t think anyone’s saying they want to play our D-core,” Canuck winger Conor Garland said. “They’re big and they’re (physical) and then, obviously, we have a freak in Huggy (Hughes) who can beat you with his feet and is a top player in the world. We’re fortunate to have a really good crew back there that does it all. It’s fun having those guys on your side.”

As an aside, it’s also fun for people in Vancouver to see how things have changed in Boston. Bruins captain Brad Marchand, who famously used Daniel Sedin’s head as a punching back in 2011 “because I felt like it” and is one of the dirtiest and most-suspended players of his generation, is out after eating a sucker punch from Florida Panther Sam Bennett. By the way, Bennett’s action was not deemed suspension-worthy by NHL Player Safety.

“I think what we’re building here is very good,” Canuck centre Elias Pettersson said. “Whatever happens, we back each other up. I think that’s been a successful thing with what we have been doing all year. I think it shows that we care about each other.”

“To be on the winning side of things, it brings you closer,” winger Dakota Joshua said. “It brings that band-of-brothers mentality. Everybody’s got each other’s back. That’s the way we’re rolling.”

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Despite widespread predictions of a walkover for the Oilers against the Canucks, their only path to victory at the moment seems to be their lethal power play.

But Vancouver is not only a fast and physical team under coach Rick Tocchet, they’re a disciplined one, too. They are focussed on defending, protecting the middle of the ice, winning puck battles and finishing checks. They are excellent defensively.

“There’s a lot at stake,” Tocchet said Monday. “You know, there’s a lot of passion out there. There’s a lot of different things going (on) out there. It’s heated, and that’s what makes for good, playoff hockey. This whole series — great skill, great hits, you know, some unfortunate incidents that happen, and that’s what playoff hockey is all about.

“This sort of experience that we’re getting — how to deal with a tough loss, how to deal with a game that you don’t play well or a game that you win that everybody’s excited about, how do you get back to Earth? — these are the experiences where you’ve got to live it. You can tell players and you can tell them stories (about playoffs). . . but they’ve got to live it, they’ve got to taste it, they’ve got to feel it.”

Tocchet called the Soucy-McDavid incident unfortunate and unintended. Juulsen described Soucy as “the nicest guy on the team.”

The Canucks aren’t going to change how they play.

“It’s going to get harder,” Tocchet said of the series. “It never gets easy. It’s always harder. You may as well think every game is going to be even harder and harder and harder, and embrace that part. Because it’s never easier. Ever.”

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Categories: Canada Sports News, Ontario Sports News, Pro Sports News

Cross-check from Oilers’ Hyman on Canucks’ Zadorov flies under radar

SportsNets - Mon, 05/13/2024 - 17:52

Amidst all the talk of cross-checks in Game 3 between the Vancouver Canucks and Edmonton Oilers, one happened to fly under the radar.

Following Sunday night’s 4-3 victory for the Canucks, defencemen Nikita Zadorov and Carson Soucy were handed down punishments from the league for cross-checks laid on Oilers superstar Connor McDavid. Zadorov was fined $5,000 for cross-checking McDavid from behind, while Soucy was suspended one game for cross-checking the Oilers captain in the face.

What went largely unnoticed, however, was that Zadorov himself was also the victim of a cross-check to the face. And it went unpunished.

During the same scrum between the two teams at the end of the game, Zadorov was cross-checked in the face by Oilers forward Zach Hyman. According to Sportsnet’s Dan Murphy, the six-foot-six Zadorov had to receive stitches to close up a cut on his face as a result.

Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet said in his media availability Monday that he believed the league would be taking a look at the Hyman play.

“(In) the playoffs there’s a lot of scrums, a lot of stuff happens,” said Tocchet. “Unfortunate with Connor getting hit from behind by (Zadorov) and then obviously what happened with (Soucy). His intent was to probably, after he got slashed, to hit him in the chest. Unfortunately he went down.

“And then after that, (Zadorov) got cross-checked by Hyman. So, it’s unfortunate. I think there’s a couple of incidents that (NHL Department of Player Safety head George Parros) is looking at right now.”

According to The Province‘s Patrick Johnston, a league spokesperson said that while all incidents of potential foul play are reviewed, they were not aware of any forthcoming fine or hearing for Hyman’s cross-check on Zadorov.

With the temperature rising to a higher degree every meeting between the Oilers and Canucks, Game 4 on Tuesday is sure to see even more heated moments.

Catch all the action on Sportsnet and Sportsnet+ starting at 9:50 p.m. ET/ 6:50 p.m. PT.

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Mike Tyson, Jake Paul face off ahead of upcoming boxing match

SportsNets - Mon, 05/13/2024 - 17:52

Few could have guessed at the beginning of the year that one of the most anticipated combat sports events of the summer would be Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson, yet here we are.

Anticipation is slowly growing roughly two months out from the spectacle, and the YouTube star-turned-boxer and the former lineal heavyweight champion took part in a press conference Monday to promote the event set for July 20 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas and airing live on Netflix worldwide.

“I respect them taking this fight, for stepping up to put an end to me because that’s what all these fighters have been trying to do is end the YouTuber. If Mike can do that he’s a hero,” Paul said from the Apollo Theater in Harlem, N.Y., where he and Tyson answered questions from gathered media and fans. “On July 20, I’m going to show the world I can out-box Mike Tyson and prove everyone wrong.”

Tyson will be 58 when he steps into the ring in July, while Paul will be 27. Tyson last competed in 2020 when he fought Roy Jones Jr., to a draw in an eight-round exhibition match during which both former champions gave a solid account of themselves as athletes in their 50s. Tyson finished his professional career in 2005 going 50-6 with a pair of no-contests.

Despite the unconventional matchup with Paul, their eight-round heavyweight tilt will be counted as a pro bout after being sanctioned by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulations earlier this month.

There will be no headgear worn, the fighters will wear 14-ounce gloves and the rounds will be two minutes in duration instead of three.

“I wanted the shorter rounds because I wanted more action,” Tyson explained. “If we only have two minutes we’ll fight more.”

Paul agreed by saying: “It’s going to be a firefight. More punches and it’s going to be a sprint in there, so I think it’s going to be more entertaining for the fans.”

Tyson then interjected to mention he’s been doing a lot of sprints to prepare, which got some laughter from those attending the press conference.

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“I really like Jake a lot but once he’s in that ring he has to fight like his life is depending on it because it will be,” Tyson said. “I think the people that said (I’m too old for this fight) wish they were up here because who else can do this? Who else can shut the sporting world down? No one else can do this. We’re friends, there’s no doubt we’re friends, but in the ring we’re not going to be friends.”

Paul described himself as a “natural born heavyweight” and said he’s weighing in the 230s currently, confident he will be able to take Tyson’s punches. He also believes the crowd support will be split evenly in the lead-up to the fight.

“I think it’s 50/50,” Paul said. “I truly believe there’s a lot of people who see me as an arrogant asshole, which I can be sometimes, but I’m just having fun and entertaining the world and I do think that the older generation wants to see Mike knock me out, but at the end of the day I also have the kids, the middle schoolers, the high schoolers, the college students rooting for me and want to see me end Mike.”

Paul has a 9-1 pro boxing record with notable wins over former UFC champions Anderson Silva, Tyron Woodley, plus UFC star Nate Diaz all since 2021.

Joining Paul and Tyson on stage Monday were women’s boxing stars Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano who are scheduled to meet in a rematch in the co-main event. Taylor (23-1) won a 10-round split decision over Serrano (46-2-1) when the fought for the undisputed lightweight title two years ago.

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Mike Tyson, Jake Paul face off ahead of upcoming boxing match - Sportsnet.ca

Google Sports Canada - Mon, 05/13/2024 - 17:52

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LeBron James attends Game 4 between Celtics and Cavaliers in Cleveland

SportsNets - Mon, 05/13/2024 - 17:43

CLEVELAND — LeBron James attended Cleveland’s playoff game against the Boston Celtics on Monday night, an appearance certain to drive conversation about the superstar’s future.

James, who can opt out of his contact with the Los Angeles Lakers and become a free agent this summer, played two stints in Cleveland. He led the Cavs to their only NBA championship in 2016 before leaving two years later.

The league’s career scoring leader, James has maintained a home near his hometown of Akron. He’s come back to Cleveland many times since leaving in 2018, but has not attended any Cavs games.

James arrived just as the game began and took a courtside seat along with his wife, Savannah, and agent Rich Paul.

He received a thunderous ovation when shown on the Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse scoreboard during a timeout. James acknowledged the crowd and then King James mimicked putting a crown on his head.

The 39-year-old had a short postseason this year as the Lakers were eliminated in the first round by the defending champion Denver Nuggets. James made it clear following the series that was leaving his options open and had made no decisions about his next move.

James has talked in the past about playing alongside his oldest son, Bronny, who played at USC last season and recently declared for this year’s draft.

On Monday, the younger James was cleared by the league’s doctors to participate in the pre-draft combine in Chicago after going into cardiac arrest last summer.

James is a 20-time All-Star, four-time league MVP and champion. He was drafted No. 1 overall by Cleveland and spent seven seasons with the Cavs before signing as a free agent with Miami in 2010.

He returned to the Cavs in 2014 and led them to four consecutive NBA Finals appearances — all against Golden State.

Categories: Canada Sports News, Ontario Sports News, Pro Sports News

Varsho robs O’Hearn of home run with leaping grab

SportsNets - Mon, 05/13/2024 - 17:35

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Vancouver’s first public Canucks viewing party a success, say fans and neighbours - Global News

Google Sports Canada - Mon, 05/13/2024 - 17:25

Vancouver’s first public Canucks viewing party a success, say fans and neighbours Global News
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Canadian Summer McIntosh sets early tone at Olympic Trials

SportsNets - Mon, 05/13/2024 - 17:17

Canada’s Summer McIntosh was an unheralded swimmer who stole the show at her first Olympic Trials appearance three years ago.

She returned to the event Monday as a favourite and set the tone for the weeklong competition with a dominating performance in the women’s 400-metre freestyle.

McIntosh was on world-record pace for most of the race before finishing just off the mark in three minutes 59.06 seconds to lock up a spot at the Paris Games.

“It’s definitely great to qualify on the first night and get the deal sealed,” she said.

Another heavy favourite, Maggie Mac Neil of London, Ont., also earned a victory at the Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre. The reigning Olympic champion in the 100 butterfly took the top spot in the discipline in 56.61.

“It’s challenging but also fun being on the first day,” Mac Neil said. “Obviously, you’re fresher, but you don’t know how the meet is going to go and how you’re feeling. So it can go both ways.

“But I’m pretty happy with today overall.”

Mac Neil was second at the halfway mark but found another gear over the final 50 metres to beat Montreal’s Mary-Sophie Harvey, who also came in under the Olympic qualifying time at 57.31.

Rebecca Smith of Red Deer, Alta., also beat the standard at 57.89 seconds. The top two finishers in each discipline who beat the Olympic standard are technically “qualified to be nominated,” per Swimming Canada wording.

Swimmers outside the top two who come in under the required time could still be nominated for selection. Federation brass must consider relay options for the Games as well.

A team announcement on the Paris roster is set for Sunday night. The Canadian Olympic Committee will formally name the competitors ahead of the July 26-Aug. 11 Games.

McIntosh was just 14 when she had her breakout performance here in 2021. She pulled off wins in the 200- and 800-metre freestyle before barely missing the podium in Tokyo.

She has since risen to the top of the sport, winning world titles and setting records along the way.

Now 17 and at the top of her game, McIntosh is poised to become one of the big Canadian storylines in Paris.

She was the last swimmer introduced in her race on Monday night and the hometown crowd roared its approval when she appeared on the deck. McIntosh led by a full body length after just 50 metres and cruised to victory.

“I think every time I swim the 400 freestyle, I learn a little bit more about how to swim the race,” she said. “I think it’s one of the most strategic races in swimming. I’m definitely not happy with that time.

“I know I can go faster. I’ve got to keep pushing forward.”

Mac Neil, who captured three medals in Tokyo, was tested in her race. Smith had a slim lead at the turn and Mac Neil turned it on late for the win.

“I’ve been swimming this for quite a while and I’ve learned that for me, it’s definitely more effective to go out slower and have a second 50 that’s better than everyone else,” she said.

The 400 free and 100 fly were the only finals where the Olympic standard was met. In other events, Alexander Axon of Newmarket, Ont., won the men’s 400 free in 3:50.10 and Finlay Knox of Okotoks, Alta., took the men’s 100 breaststroke in 1:00.66.

The competition also includes Paralympic trials under a different qualification structure.

The national para-swimming team for Paris will include a maximum of 15 women and seven men. Nominees must swim ‘A’ or ‘B’ qualifying times as determined by Swimming Canada.

Danielle Dorris of Moncton, N.B., finished first in the women’s 50-metre butterfly (S7) in 32.99 and Hannah Ouellette of Saskatoon was tops in the S5 classification in 58.57.

Charle Giammichele of Hamilton, Ont., was victorious in the men’s 50 fly (S7) in 33.88 and Sebastian Massabie of Surrey, B.C., was first in the S5 in 39.68.

In the women’s 100 butterfly, Jaime (Katie) Cosgriffe of Burlington, Ont., won the S10 class (1:06.75), Mary Jibb of Bracebridge, Ont., was tops in S9 (1:12.54), Angela Marina of Cambridge, Ont., won the S14 (1:10.08), Maxine Lavitt of Winnipeg took the S13 (1:12.51) and Emma Van Dyk of Port Colborne, Ont., was fastest in S14 (1:14.27).

In the men’s race, Reid Maxwell of St. Albert, Alta., finished first in the S8 class in 1:06.34 and Fernando Lu of Burnaby, B.C., was the top S10 finisher in 59.35.

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Un jeune espoir des Senators quitte l'organisation pour aller jouer en Europe - HabsolumentFan

Google Sports Canada French - Mon, 05/13/2024 - 17:16

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Mike Tyson warns Jake Paul he will be fighting for his life; Paul responds - MMA Fighting

Google Sports Canada - Mon, 05/13/2024 - 17:14

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Juraj Slafkovsky et Cole Caufield face à des pressions différentes au mondial - Radio-Canada.ca

Google Sports Canada French - Mon, 05/13/2024 - 17:13

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Bergie, tu es mon MVP! - TVA Sports

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9 M$ en impôts impayés: l'État saisit la résidence à Gatineau d'un des pires cyberpirates - TVA Nouvelles

Google Sports Canada French - Mon, 05/13/2024 - 17:00

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Mercury eight-time All-Star Brittney Griner has a fractured toe in her left foot

SportsNets - Mon, 05/13/2024 - 16:58

PHOENIX — Phoenix Mercury All-Star center Brittney Griner has a fractured toe in her left foot, which will cause her to miss an undisclosed amount of time.

The team confirmed the injury on Monday and said she will be “out and re-evaluated in the coming weeks.” The 33-year-old is entering her 11th NBA season.

The 6-foot-8 Griner made her eighth All-Star team last season, which was her first since being detained for nearly a year in Russia. She averaged 17.5 points and 6.3 rebounds in 2023.

She shared details about her harrowing experience in Russia in her new book “Coming Home,” which came out last week.

Categories: Canada Sports News, Ontario Sports News, Pro Sports News

Quick Hits | Training Camp - Day 2 - bluebombers.com

Google Sports Canada - Mon, 05/13/2024 - 16:58

Quick Hits | Training Camp - Day 2 bluebombers.com
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Stanley Cup Playoffs on Sportsnet: Hurricanes vs. Rangers, Game 5

SportsNets - Mon, 05/13/2024 - 16:48

The Hurricanes managed to avoid the sweep at home, but can they do it again, this time at Madison Square Garden? You can watch the game at 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT on Sportsnet or Sportsnet+ or follow along with our live NHL tracker.

Categories: Canada Sports News, Ontario Sports News, Pro Sports News

Can Oilers break same vicious cycle that has sunk them before?

SportsNets - Mon, 05/13/2024 - 16:46

EDMONTON — “It’s at least 90 per cent mental. Maybe more.”

Stuart Skinner was talking about:

A — The issues in his game.

B — Surviving a playoff series between two Western Canadian rivals.

C — Avoiding the urge to delete your X account.

D — Connor McDavid’s crosscheck survival strategy.

Here we are, folks, at the midway point of this fantastic, emotional series. A social media spectacle that has taken over our country in all rinks West of Moose Jaw, a rivalry that will spill over to the golf courses and beaches of the Okanagan this summer.

Stress?

My wife has burned through a box of church candles — and her team is down, two games to one. Even the Big Guy isn’t playing ball.

Skinner stiffed the post-game media for the first time in his NHL career — for which he apologized on Tuesday — and his coach Kris Knoblauch awoke after Game 3 as a clone of Todd McLellan.

Or Dave Tippett. Or Jay Woodcroft.

You know, one of those old Oilers coaches who fell into the trap of playing two players nearly half the game while the bottom half of his roster ate popcorn and bought 50/50 tickets all night long.

Inside his own head, Knoblauch knows you can’t win a playoff series by playing the McDavid line as much as he is. But his team has been trailing for most of the past two games, and, well, “You’ve got an offensive zone faceoff, with Draisaitl, McDavid. and Hyman sitting on the bench. It’s pretty tough not to say, ‘You guys go out for that faceoff.’

“Hopefully the temptation is alleviated with a two- or three-goal lead.”

Stanley Cup Playoffs Round 2: Canucks vs. Oilers

Keep up with the latest news and analysis as the Vancouver Canucks battle the Edmonton Oilers in Round 2 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Full coverage

It’s always been a chicken and egg thing here in Edmonton, a fowl scenario that a deeper roster was supposed to alleviate.

You want that lead so you can play the depth guys more, but the quickest way to that lead is to play McDavid’s line. So the depth guys languish, don’t get much ice time, and when they do they aren’t so productive because they have barely broken a sweat.

So the coach says, “Well, I’m not getting any Bottom 6 goals. Better call on Connor.”

It’s a vicious cycle, not unlike the one churning between Skinner’s ears right now. His game melted down a year ago in Round 2, was supposed to be more consistent this time around, and so far is not.

“To be super honest, I don’t think it’s anything technical,” Skinner said. “I think it’s just me being able to find saves at key times, and I haven’t been able to do that.”

The guy at the other end arrived at the party five minutes ago, and Arturs Silovs has established himself as the best goalie in this series thus far. Meanwhile, Skinner has watched his career playoff save percentage plummet to .818, a damning assessment of his post-season work through two springs.

“The numbers don’t lie. They’re saying what they say — well, they lie a little bit — but it is what it is,” he allowed. “Do I feel like I’m playing at those numbers? A little bit. Have some good goals gone in? Yeah. Have some bad goals going in? Yes.”

Knoblauch won’t say who starts in Game 4, but it’s likely a coin flip between Skinner and backup Calvin Pickard. Jack Campbell is not in the picture — he’s the No. 3 in case of injury.

Skinner promises his ‘A’ game is sooooo close to arriving.

“As close as one per cent… and we could be laughing here, talking about how great I am,” he chuckled. “I’ve got to be able to find that one per cent, that one more save.”

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The good news is, he’s been here before. The bad news is, there are few signs — at least externally — that he is any better for it.

“I’m very grateful for those experiences,” Skinner said, “so I’m not an absolute mess right now.”

Speaking of messes, McDavid took a wicked Nikita Zadorov crosscheck in the back ($5,000 fine), and a toothsome Carson Soucy crosscheck in the face (one-game suspension) within about a half-second of each other after the Game 3 final buzzer.

The next morning he was chipper and — to his credit — did not waste any words complaining about the mugging.

“It’s a tough game. They’ve got big d-men that make it hard on you,” McDavid reasoned. “They play a physical brand of hockey and it’s fun to be a part of. It’s fun.”

It didn’t look like fun, we mentioned.

“It’s a fun series to be a part of,” he stressed. “Two Canadian teams going at it, a lot of passion. It’s just part of a heated series.”

Of all the people around this series from an Edmonton perspective — the goalie, the fans, the coach, the guy who sells church candles — McDavid seems the least stressed of all.

The best player, the most pressure, the least stress.

“We’ve got all the faith in the world,” McDavid said. “Stu has always bounced back well, our group has always bounced back well, and I would expect Stu and our group to respond.”

Chilled out.

Just like the rest of us, right?

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