If you believed the players at face value, this game was just another chance to claim two points on Hockey Night in Canada. If you believed the broadcasters, this was a tectonic event that could’ve served as a precursor to this summer’s Stanley Cup final.
And in truth, Saturday’s thriller between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Edmonton Oilers rose above all expectations, a regular-season classic elevating the monotony of Game 65 as the Maple Leafs emerged with a 7-4 victory.
Mitch Marner was left off the marquee, a contest advertised as a showdown between the reigning Hart Trophy winner in teammate Auston Matthews and this year’s presumptive, unanimous favourite in Connor McDavid.