TORONTO – – Mike Smith said it could be the shortest road trip the Edmonton Oilers have ever made.
The seasoned goalkeeper and teammates spent their first full day in the bladder on Monday in a hotel in downtown Edmonton, about five miles from his residence. For the Oilers, he said, home is so close yet so far, a feeling that everyone has to adapt to.
“It’s definitely unique,” Smith said during a zoom call to reporters. “The reality definitely started when you brought your luggage to a hotel room [Sunday] After you drive 10 minutes from the ice rink to your home and are in Edmonton.
“The only thing that is good is that it is unique for everyone. Everyone goes through the same thing, everyone lives in these two hotels, plays in the same arena and dresses in different rooms every day. It’s all for everyone new. We’re all in this situation, so go here every day. “
When the NHL announced Edmonton and Toronto as hubs as part of their return to play plan on July 10, coaches Dave Tippett of the Oilers and Sheldon Keefe of the Toronto Maple Leafs began teaching their players that there would be no home advantage Stanley Cup Qualifiers, let alone the opportunity to go home after the games.
Video: Inside the Bubble: Western Conference teams arrive
The message came true on Monday, one day after the 24 participating teams arrived at the hubs – 12 Western Conference teams in Edmonton, 12 Eastern Conference teams in Toronto.
“I was joking with the boys,” said Tippett. “I told them: ‘In a normal situation you would live at home and at least you know how to get to the ice rink.’ But even with our boys, with the way the bubble is constructed, everyone is wondering which way to go, what door to get in. So we’re no different from everyone else.
“The ice rinks, the ice surface itself, boards, glass and that are pretty much identical. So this part does not come into play. I do not see it as an advantage or a disadvantage. I consider it as, we are familiar, but otherwise we are sitting in the same Airplane like everyone else. “
The Oilers and Maple Leafs will each get a further impression of the new reality on Tuesday when they are visiting teams in their home stadiums. It will be their first opportunity to get used to being in other changing rooms and benches than they are used to at their home stadiums, Rogers Place in Edmonton and the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto.
The Maple Leafs compete against the Montreal Canadiens in an exhibition game in Toronto (8 p.m. ET; NHLN, TVAS, SN1, NHL.TV), and the Oilers play the Calgary Flames in an exhibition game in Edmonton (10.30 p.m. ET); NHLN, SN, NHL.TV).
“We are in the same boat as all the other teams,” said Tippett. “We are in our dressing room one day and out again the next day. We prepared for it during the training camp. In Scrimmages, players pull out of different dressing rooms. They are just trying to deal with it.”
“But we see it as a street team. We have no advantage from it. There are no fans, we do not use facilities as normal. We only see it.” like any other team. “
The Oilers (37-25-9, .585 points percent) are number 5 in the West and will begin their best-of-5 series against number 12 of the Chicago Blackhawks (32-30-8, .514) in Edmonton on Saturday.
Video: Marner on adjustments that are necessary to participate in qualifying games
The Maple Leafs (36-25-9, .579 points percent) are number 8 in the east and play number 9 of the Columbus Blue Jackets (33-22-15, .579) in a Best-of -5 series in Toronto from Sunday.
They try to accept their unique situation just like the Oilers.
Toronto forward Mitchell Marner wanted to bring a piece home, so he brought his own pillow to the Royal York Hotel, where the Maple Leafs live. Because he lives nearby, he didn’t think it was a big deal.
“The pillow, usually all beds are pretty comfortable, but you never know what you can get with a pillow,” he said. “It’s just down the street so it really wasn’t that difficult for me to bring. I just wanted to keep my own pillow.”
It’s all part of the new world that the Maple Leafs and Oilers have to adapt to.
“It will take some time,” said Marner. “We know that.
“But obviously it is a bit strange to be at home, but in a hotel instead of in your house.”
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