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This is what it was all about ... For the 1st time in their 27 year history in the NHL, the Carolina Hurricanes (formerly the Hartford Whalers) won their first Stanley Cup. Edmonton may have come up 1 win short of bringing the Cup home - not only to Edmonton but back to Canada - but man what a rollercoaster ride it's been these last 2 months. Since we were so used to watching them make a first round exit - to the Dallas Stars no less than 5 consecutive years - this was a run that every Oilers fan should gladly live with regardless of the outcome. I have to admit that once they squeaked into the 8th and final playoff spot I thought that they would be lucky if they took the Detroit Red Wings to 7 games let alone win the series. But man ... 2 months later and we're mourning not a first round exit but the fact that they were 1 win short of winning it all. Was I disappointed? Absolutely, and going into game 7 many people had a sense that this could very well not happen ... and that's exactly how it turned out. As a hockey fan in general you have to be happy for some of the players on the Hurricanes roster. In my mind, Glen Wesley stands out as the feel good story of this win. I'm sure that he would feel that this is poetic justice in a sense, as he was a rookie playing in the 1988 finals with Boston - and got swept by the Oilers and then again in 1990. Glen Wesley, Cam Ward, Ray Whitney and Mike Commodore are all local boys that Edmonton fans should feel happy for. Then there's Rod Brind'Amour - I don't think I've ever seen a Captain raise that Cup with more emotion than he did on Monday. For guys in his position, it's 17 years in the league and a life time's worth of hard work all culminating to this one goal - raising the Stanley Cup in triumph. Hats off to the Canes! |
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But heads up - next year looks to be very promising. We've got one of, if not the best defenceman in the league along with a roster that's deep enough to make another run at it next year. There are some question marks in terms of who's coming back next season. I would be shocked if Fernando Pisani didn't re-sign and stay here - he's a local boy who's certainly made his mark not only with the team, but throughout the league as he lead all goal scorers. Mike Peca is probably the big question mark for next year. I wouldn't be surprised at all if he opts to head back east - however it would be great to see him here next year in light of this run. If the Oilers can stay consistent through the course of the regular season and not fall into the same .... whatever it was that happened to the Calgary Flames - then they should be a legitimate threat next year. For the better part of a decade we were stuck with the most boring hockey ever witnessed - read: The Trap. But with changes to the CBA and certain rules of the game, Edmonton has not only been able to actually aquire marquee talent but we have seen the return of what is acurately referred to around that league as 'Oilers Hockey'! |
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Go Oilers!
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This is what it's all about ... For the 7th time in their 27 year history in the NHL, the Oilers are headed back to the Stanley Cup finals. Who would have thought that an eighth seed would make it this far? Fans here are certainly elated. The city is riding high - except for all the yahoos trying to trash Whyte Avenue - and every where you go you see flags and banners, people wearing their jersey's and cars decorated up. Heck I even got in on the fun here in my office. There was a contest to see who would have the best decorated office. So I pulled out all the Oilers stuff I had sitting in boxes and went crazy. First prize was tickets to game 3 of the final - so I had to try. The result - you'll find out in pictures I posted this week. I'm hearing that Calgary fans are not being all that supportive, which is strange considering the amount of support Edmonton was showing when they made their run to the final in '04. 20 years ago a person would have been lynched in Edmonton if they were flying the Flames logo or had a 'Go Flames Go' sign in their store. But that's exactly what was happening here 2 years ago - Support for the last Canadian team making a run at the Cup no less. If there's one thing I observed in the 6 years I was in Calgary - it's that they cannot stand seeing the Oilers succeed. I guess it shouldn't come as much of a surprise then - however I have to admit that I got a serious headache as I watched Lanny McDonald raise the cup in '89. |
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Is this the Stanley Cup final or the Avco Cup final? Hockey fans should know what that means - Edmonton and the Carolina Hurricanes (formerly the Hartford Whalers) are 2 of 4 teams to join the NHL from the World Hockey Association - WHA back in '79. The Colorado Avalanche (formerly the Quebec Nordiques) won 2 cups and the Phoenix Coyotes (formerly the Winnepeg Jets) have yet to even make the finals. This however will be the first time 2 teams from that old league are meeting in the final. Man, Edmonton is the only one of the 4 that hasn't relocated. Let hope it stays that way. When you think about the fact that this is the Oilers 7th trip to the finals in 27 years you have to admit someone is doing a heck of job managing this team. Sure there were some low points in the mid 90's with the team unable to hold onto any of their talent and attendance plummeting. But when you compare their success to some of the more established teams, you have tip your hat - 5 cups in 27 years - compare that to some of the original 6 teams which have been around for 70 - 80 years. Chicago has 3 cups, the Rangers 4 cups and Boston has 5 cups. The only teams ahead of Edmonton are Detroit with 10 cups, Toronto with 13 cups and of course Montreal with 24 cups. |
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Let's just hope they can get 4 more wins for their 6th cup!
And now...pictures of the kids and of my enthusiasm for the Oil!
Manoj
