Fuhr, Ranford shine at Heritage Classic
Last Updated: Sunday, November 23, 2003 | 1:37 AM ET
CBC Sports
Fuhr was his acrobatic self during Saturday's Heritage Classic alumni game, combining with Bill Ranford to stop all 25 Montreal Canadiens shots in the Edmonton Oilers' 2-0 win at Commonwealth Stadium.
The two netminders stole the show in front of 57,167 fans that sat through a wind-chill of minus-28 degrees.
"You know what, it's all about the two points," Ranford said with a laugh.
The highlight was a vintage Fuhr glove save, in which he robbed Stephane Richer from the top of the circle with 28 seconds left in the first 15-minute half.
A golf pro in Edmonton, Fuhr even impressed the Montreal legends.
"Grant showed me he was a gamer," said Canadiens alumni Larry Robinson.
Fuhr, who recently was inducted into hockey's Hall of Fame, was flawless with 11 saves in the first 15 minutes.
With tough shoes to fill, Ranford came on and proceeded to turn aside 14 shots, including a barrage in the final few minutes.
He stopped Kirk Muller from in close, stacked the pads against Russ Courtnall and denied Bobby Smith from the crease in the last two minutes.
"It was a big surprise," Ranford said of the shutout. "My prediction was 15-14 for us.
"I wasn't overly happy with (Fuhr). I was hoping he could at least let in one. I was real nervous going in after that effort. That was unbelievable."
The performances by both Oiler goalies were no surprise to their teammates, who've seen similar magic countless times before.
"Fuhrsie's Fuhrsie," said Marty McSorley. "He makes the saves when you need him to make them. And Billy was the best goaltender in the world for a period of time."
Added Paul Coffey: "That's why Grant's in the Hockey Hall of Fame. I don't think there was a better gamer goaltender in the league or in the history of the game like Grant Fuhr."
In the past six weeks, Fuhr had his No. 31 retired at Edmonton's Rexall Place (formerly Skyreach Centre), entered the Hall and then wrapped it all up by helping the Oilers pitch a shutout with all his old buddies surrounding him.
"You can't ask for more to happen in one year," said Fuhr. "I should almost buy a lottery ticket."
Ranford was beaming in the dressing room afterwards, thrilled to have one last chance playing for the same team he led to the Stanley Cup in 1990, when he won the Conn Smythe as playoff MVP.
with files from Canadian Press
