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SPORTS Monday 2 october 2017
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Oilers, Maple Leafs lead NHL’s Canadian revival

By STEPHEN WHYNO lucky that way that we
AP Hockey Writer have a lot of young faces
The NHL’s two most dy- in Edmonton, as well as a
namic stars under 21 play good mix of older guys that
there, and it’s the home have played and been
of five playoff teams from around the league.”
last season and potentially Adding goalie Mike Smith
more this year. has given the Flames a
Oh, Canada, home of spark in the Battle of Al-
some pretty good hockey. berta. The team and city
Connor McDavid and of Calgary are locked in a
Auston Matthews are at dispute over a new arena,
the forefront of a revival but on the ice there’s a lot
north of the 48th paral- of optimism about a team
lel two years after no Ca- with Gaudreau, Sean Mo-
nadian team made the nahan and a deep de-
Stanley Cup playoffs. Mc- fense.
David’s Edmonton Oilers, “I’m excited. I know all the
Matthews’ Toronto Maple guys in Calgary are excit-
Leafs, the Montreal Ca- ed,” Gaudreau said. “For
nadiens, Ottawa Senators the Flames and Edmonton,
and Calgary Flames are all it’s a great rivalry. The prov-
in position to qualify again, ince gets pretty crazy and
with the young Winnipeg In this Monday, Sept. 25, 2017 file photo, Carolina Hurricanes’ Brett Pesce (22) chases Edmonton excited for those games.”
Jets looking like a contend- Oilers’ Connor McDavid (97) during second period NHL preseason hockey action in Edmonton, Things can get pretty crazy
er, too. Alberta. Connor McDavid and Auston Matthews are at the forefront of a revival north of the 48th in Quebec, Ontario, Mani-
“It’s great for hockey when parallel as it seems like forever ago when no Canadian teams made the Stanley Cup Playoffs in toba and British Columbia,
you got the Canadian 2015-16. too. In the Eastern Con-
teams, they’re fighting for (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP) ference, the Canadiens
playoff spots and they’re in playoffs in 2017-18, it’ll be has gone to an American core with forward Leon and Maple Leafs being
the playoffs,” Flames wing- the first time since then. team. Draisaitl, defensemen Dar- playoff contenders at the
er Johnny Gaudreau said. Carey Price gives Montreal “It’ll vary from year to year,” nell Nurse and Oscar Klef- same time has led some to
“It was two years ago zero a shot, Erik Karlsson can NHL Commissioner Gary bom and goaltender Cam dream about the first play-
teams (made it). Now you work magic with Ottawa Bettman said. “What’s in Talbot that looks ready to off series between those
can see all those teams and goaltending could the league’s interest is that challenge the big boys in Original Six teams since
are making a push to make make all the difference in we have great hockey.” the Western Conference. 1979.
the playoffs and hopefully Calgary, but it’s Edmon- There’s plenty of that across “That’s what good teams “It creates good rivalries,”
win a Cup eventually.” ton that gives Canada the Canada right now. do, teams that have won, Montreal forward Jona-
No Canadian team has best chance of ending the McDavid is coming off win- that’s kind of their recipe than Drouin said. “Obvious-
won the Stanley Cup since country’s Cup drought. ning the Hart Trophy as NHL is draft good players and ly the Toronto one is good.
Montreal in 1993. If six Ca- The past 23 times the Cup MVP at age 20, and the Oil- watch them develop,” They’re a good team. You
nadian teams make the has been handed out, it ers have a talented young McDavid said. “We’re very saw it last year. q
Busch spoils Elliott’s run at Dover for 2nd straight win

By DAN GELSTON Toyota and reeled in Elliott rot hanging out there and
AP Sports Writer down the stretch. I was going to get it. I was
DOVER, Del. (AP) — Busch gave a ho-hum race going to give it everything I
Kyle Busch spoiled Chase a thrilling ending and won had and fortunately it was
Elliott’s run at his first career for the second straight enough.”
NASCAR Cup Series victory, week. Ryan Newman, Austin Dil-
taking the lead with two Busch won for the fourth lon, Daytona 500 cham-
laps left to win Sunday at time and is hot at the right pion Kurt Busch and Brick-
Dover International Speed- time as NASCAR’s play- yard 400 winner Kasey
way. offs head into the second Kahne were eliminated as
Elliott led 138 laps and round. the playoff field was cut
seemed poised to break “I know Chase is hungry, I from 16 to 12.
through and reach victory know he’s been trying for a Elliott was second, fol-
lane for the first time in 70 couple of years to try and Kyle Busch competes during the NASCAR Cup Series race, Sun- lowed by 11-time Dover
career starts. get his first Cup Series win,” day, Oct. 1, 2017, at Dover International Speedway in Dover, winner Jimmie Johnson,
Busch seemed to have the Busch said. Del. Martin Truex Jr. and Kyle
fresher tires on the No. 18 “But man, I saw that car- (AP Photo/Nick Wass) Larson. q