GENE'S BLOG: Takin' Khaira Business

EDMONTON, AB - It never hurts to come home and score and win. Jujhar Khaira did all of the above on Tuesday night. What a night it was for the Edmonton Oiler and for his team. The cherry on top would have been Khaira providing the winner in the shootout but that won't stand in the way of a joyous return to Vancouver for the west coast winger. There were fans in the stands who were cheering the Oilers and some specifically who were there to see and support, as Kevin Quinn said on Sportsnet during the game, "a local boy making good." He's serious and stern in his look but the sly smile on the outside would have been even bigger on the inside.

The saying, so it goes, is 'it's not how but how many,' when it comes to the goals you score. Jujhar is one goal short of matching the 16 on his sweater for career goals. I can't say I remember each and every one vividly but I don't think I'll be forgetting the goal he potted on January 16, 2019. It was early in the game the captain Connor McDavid was seated in the penalty box when Khaira corraled the puck. Sitting in the middle of a trio of opposing players, he spun, he turned, he shook off Bo Horvat (who might be the Canucks best defensive forward), headed for the net and then absolutely roofed a wrist shot above the shoulder of 6'6" Jacob Markstrom. Big goal at a big time to start a big game on the road.
In the first intermission, Khaira was the natural choice for what they call in the TV world a 'walk-off' interview.
This was his reaction to scoring not far from his home of Surrey: "Yeah, it's definitely cool to come back here, where I have family, visit with them and just to have them watch me play. I mean, they have done so much for me. I guess in a way it's giving back, so it's kind of cool for them to be able to come out."

Khaira wasn't exactly sure where they were sitting and other than his parents and sister he also wasn't exactly sure which family and friends were in Rogers Arena to watch him. Whomever it was and wherever they were, no chance they were disappointed in their favourite Oiler or their favourite team.
For those tracking, Jujhar was one of four B.C. boys in the lineup last night. Milan Lucic from Vancouver, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins from nearby Burnaby and Brandon Manning from Prince George. They all have their own stories of growing up and watching their hometown or home province team. Khaira readily admits he was on the Canucks bandwagon when they had the West Coast Express. A line that consisted of Brendan Morrison, Markus Naslund and Todd Bertuzzi. Bertuzzi was Khaira's favourite. He told stories upon his arrival in Edmonton how as a kid he used to go into what was then called General Motors Place. It may have been a game or a skills competition but he was there to cheer on the Canucks.
Here we are a decade and a half later and he's no longer cheering them on. Instead, the Oiler is helping to quiet the fans he once was one of. Times have changed. It was Edmonton's last game in Vancouver this season. Jujhar won't see his hometown again until maybe the All-Star or CBA mandated break or maybe it won't be until this summer. What the 24-year-old won't forget was how in a big game for playoff positioning he made sure his team was 'Takin' Khaira Business.'