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I'm So Proud of This Team |
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There will be plenty of time over the summer to talk about the issues this team needs to address, whether or not Ken Holland did enough during his tenure as GM (he didn't), and so many other typical complaints and concerns that come with writing about an NHL team.
While the sting of a Game 7 loss in the Stanley Cup Finals isn't going to go away any time soon, today there is a stronger emotion I feel and that is pride.
Taking a step back and looking at the big picture; this was a phenomenally entertaining season for Oilers fans. Prior to the start of the season, this was a team that was expected to compete for a Cup this season and we all bought into the hype. Fans and the players all seemed to believe the regular season was just going to be easy for this group. On November 9th, this team sat with a 2-9-1 record and tied for dead last in the NHL. The idea of making the playoffs, let alone competing for a Cup seemed like a pipedream.
Then along came Kris Knoblauch and after a couple wins, followed by another 3 game losing streak, it seemed like there just wasn't going to be enough runway to get back into the mix.
Then they won 8 in a row. Lost 3 in a row after that. Then they won 16 games in a row, nearly tying an NHL record and suddenly the team was looking a whole lot more like the Cup contender we all thought they were. The Oilers were back.
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The playoffs began and the Oilers were expected to absolutely trounce the LA Kings... which made me nervous because I have lived through too many situations where Edmonton "should win," only to fail. But to their credit, the Oilers systematically went about their business and beat the Kings in 5 games.
Then along came the Canucks, the team that handed Edmonton their first few embarrassing losses of the season and this all Canadian series came exactly as advertised. Both teams were flying, Silovs looked like a Vezina finalist and just when you thought one team was going to take the series over, the other team swopped in for a win. No team was able to win two games in a row until the very end when Edmonton staved off elimination by winning Game 6 and Game 7.
A quick note for the Canucks fans who became regulars on my blog during this playoff run. Some of you have been great, some of you less so. To all of you I say I look forward to this rivalry continuing for years to come and I appreciate those of you who commented and kept the sports debate alive.
Edmonton was "expected" to beat LA and Vancouver. They were not expected to beat the Dallas Stars, the best team in the Western Conference in the regular season and many thought were the deepest team in the NHL. Edmonton won a thrilling double OT victory in Game 1, stormed back in Game 4 after being down 2-0 to win 5-2, played a strong Game 5 and had a chance to clinch moving on to the Stanley Cup Finals in Game 6 on home ice. While the Oilers had scored a couple powerplay goals early on, the Stars looked far more in control of the game but a brilliant performance by Stuart Skinner kept the Oilers in the game and as the final seconds ticked down, the Oilers were going back to the Stanley Cup Finals.
Florida was going to be the toughest opponent yet but in Game 1, the Oilers certainly controlled the pace of the game but it was Bobrovsky who was the MVP of that game. Not being able to earn the win in Game 1 hurt and concern started to creep into the Oilers game. With the blink of an eye the Oilers were down 3-0 and a sweep seemed imminent.
Then they won game 4 in exhilarating fashion to the tune of 8-1. Then again in Game 5 with a 5-3 victory, before tying the series on home ice 5-1 with a Rogers Place crowd louder than anything I've ever heard.
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I've seen people talk today that they would have rather been sweeped than almost come back just to lose in Game 7 and I just don't get that. Why wouldn't I want the memory of Connor Brown after all his regular season struggles, scoring on a shorthanded breakaway? Why wouldn't I want to remember Holloway, who some expected to be healthy scratched, scoring highlight reel goals on the second line. McDavid breaking Wayne Gretzky's assist record in the playoffs. Zach Hyman scoring a combined 70 goals on the season. Evan Bouchard being third all time in playoff scoring. Stuart Skinner being 10-0 in Games 4-7 up until the last unfortunate loss.
The Edmonton Oilers gave fans so many amazing memories through this playoff run. We watched players like Stuart Skinner, Evan Bouchard, Philip Broberg, and Dylan Holloway take that next step forward. All of these men should be huge pieces of this organization for years to come.
We watched Connor McDavid be only the second skater ever to win the Conn Smythe despite his team losing. His 42 points were 10 points higher than the next player (Bouchard) and 20 points higher than the top Panthers players (Barkov and Tkachuk). He didn't produce in the final two games of the playoffs; the Panthers played him unbelievably well and deserve top marks for what they did. Those two games don't erase the historic playoff run he had. I hold him no ill will for not coming out to accept the trophy. McDavid doesn't care or want individual achievements. He would rather be with his teammates in the worst moment of their careers than take an ounce of laurels for himself. McDavid is a true captain.
To the Florida Panthers and their fans, thank you for a well fought series and some of the best hockey I have watched in my life. This Florida team has elite talent at all positions, and it was specifically their elite scoring wingers that helped to seal the deal for them. That is certainly something that Edmonton should focus on in this off-season.
To all Oilers fans, thank you for reading my blogs over the regular season and the playoffs and hopefully through this now much shorter off-season (Draft is Friday alright...). Knowing people enjoy what I write and go to the comments to discuss it means the world to me. While it's tough right now, do your best to focus on the good and not the bad. The only fans who have any right to try and chirp you right now are Panthers fans. Every other team wishes they were in the position that Edmonton was this season.
The core of this team will be back next season. A new GM will be at the helm to add the additional pieces to push this team the extra inch they needed this season to cross the finish line. I look forward to covering it with all of you.
Thanks for reading.
Edmonton Oilers Blogger • 
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