Even if you don't follow the NHL...

[epaul]

it's time (even past time, but starting now will work just fine). It is one of those special sports moments.

Edmonton just barely squeaked into the playoffs. Skin of the puck. And against expectations and all odds, those underdog young Oilers made it all the to the NHL finals... where they had to face the powerhouse Florida Panthers, one of the very, very best teams in professional hockey; from top to bottom, line to line, a powerhouse.

And the powerhouse Florida Panthers rolled over those young Oilers game one, game two, game three. It looked like it was going to be a powerhouse 4 game sweep by the powerhouse. 3-0 Panthers!

But, the young Oilers managed to win game four, staving off the noose. 3-1 Panthers! Then the Oilers won game 5, staying alive. 3-2 Panthers! And against all the odds and turning the NHL abuzz, Oilers won game 6! Yikes! 3-3! Series tied! Those upstart Oilers just won three do or die games in row while facing the Hangman's Broom!

In the words of Moses, HOLY MOLY! Teams up 3-zip always win the 4 game series. Teams down zip-3 always lose. Or very nearly nearly always. But now? It is 3-3. And those young, underdog Oilers are hot and brimming with confidence. While the powerhouse tip to blade invincible Panthers have found themselves wearing a tight collar and wondering, "What the hell is going on!"

AND GAME 7, FOR HISTORY AND ALL THE MARBLES, IS THIS TUESDAY ON FREE ABC TV!



This is a special sports moment. Make some popcorn.

[theevan]

Let's be sure Ken sees this. Just to be sure, ya know. Wouldn't want him to miss out.

[Cornflake]

I used to be a big hockey fan and a big Edmonton fan. While on a business trip to New York in the 80s, I went to New Jersey one evening to see the Oilers play whatever the New Jersey team was. I saw Gretzsky, Messier, Kuri, Coffey and Fuhr.

[aquaduct]

Jun 22, 2024 14:28:37 GMT -5 Cornflake said:

I used to be a big hockey fan and a big Edmonton fan. While on a business trip to New York in the 80s, I went to New Jersey one evening to see the Oilers play whatever the New Jersey team was. I saw Gretzsky, Messier, Kuri, Coffey and Fuhr.

Lucky!

[epaul]

For perspective:

Only one NHL team in the history of the league has ever come back from an 0-3 hole to win the Stanley Cup, and that was the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1942. (or is it the Toronto Maple Leaves?)

Once in baseball. In 2004 the Red Sox came back from a 0-3 hole and beat the Yankees four straight games to win the American League Championship (Happy Coach!). But the ALCS isn't the championship, that's the World Series. And it has never happened in the World Series.

And it has never happened in basketball. No team has ever come back from a zip-3 deficit in the NBA Finals.

So, it has only happened once in history. 1942. The Toronto Maple Leaves.

Ok. Canadian rules. The Toronto Maple Leafs.



It's a big deal if Edmonton pull this off.

And it's a big deal if the Panthers are to regroup, lace up their skates, hold the fort, withstand the charge, stand tall, turn the tide, and, like true hockey champions, take the Stanley Cup home to the warm, sandy beaches of Florida.

Tuesday night. Make popcorn.

[RickW]

I will correct ePaul in one regard — the Oilers were one of the favored teams to win the cup at the start of the year, but they had an absolutely dreadful first month to the season. It may be that the pressure they put on themselves was too much. However, they recovered, then went on a tear. As to being a young team, not so much. And they have Connor McDavid, the best player in the world, and that’s not hyperbole — he is absolutely electric to watch. They also have Leon Drasaitl, who’s top 5. They have had defense and goal tending problems, but seem to have cleaned up somewhat. The world was somewhat surprised to see them down 3-0 to the Panthers, who are also a very good team, but not that good.

Should be a hell of a game. McDavid hasn’t won a cup, the only tarnish on his rep. He should be on fire for this one.

[epaul]

Hey, that's three regards!

Ok, another cool thing about this game, from a, oh, call it a traditional perspective. When you think of Canada, you think of three things: beer, Sorels, and hockey. And the order doesn't matter, they could be in any order. But for now, consider the hockey part of the holy three.

Hockey is Canada and Canada is hockey. And the plains of Alberta have as much claim to being the heart of hockey as any place on earth. Hockey could have been born there and it thrives in every town and village, anywhere there is a pond or rink. And the Stanley Cup, the Holy Grail of Hockey, was birthed from the beating heart of Hockey Canada.

But, a team from Canada has not won the cherished Stanley Cup in over 30 years. And if the Panthers should win on Tuesday, that would mean three out of the last five NHL Hockey Championships in NHL Hockey have been won by teams from Florida.

FLORIDA! What the Tim Horton is up with that, Eh! Hockey is the frozen plains and potholes of Alberta. Not the sandy beaches of Florida. Or the desert dunes of Las Vegas. Or scorching South Carolina, Dallas, or Los Angeles or Anaheim. Hockey was born in Canada. And Edmonton is playing for Canada.


Tuesday night. Make popcorn.

[epaul]

Slight correction:

THE GAME IS TONIGHT!

[epaul]

Apparently, they moved the 24th, from Tuesday to Monday. Hate it when they do that.

[epaul]

WOW!

For some reason, I was pulling for Florida. I suppose because the table had turned and the Panthers were the wounded beast struggling to hang on against a stronger foe. And that is exactly how the game played out. Florida was a wounded beast, struggling to hold on against a stronger faster team. The entire third period played out like it was an Edmonton power play. Yet the Panthers hung on. They blocked, they dived, they scraped, they dodged bullet after bullet, and they kept fighting, fighting against the unending onslaught.

How could the Panthers hang on? And then final minute came..., and Edmonton was spent. They had nothing left. They had worn themselves out. A hurricane spent after a day and a night beating furiously against the rock.


Whew!

And after the game...

In hockey, the two teams form opposing lines on the ice and then skate to meet each player on the other team and shake his hand... and the first player in line on the Edmonton side, the player that led his team through the congratulation line to shake hands with the winners... Conner McDavid, the Edmonton star, a star that left every drop of guts he had on the ice in a heroic effort, playing double shifts the entire third period.

And after that, McDavid the star didn't leave the ice and rush to the locker room to sulk in self pity like some stars. No, he stood at the rink's exit and congratulated and encouraged each and every one of his teammates as they left the ice. They say he is a leader that has the complete respect of this team, and that's what I saw.

[coachdoc]

I’m sorry. Ice hockey should not be played in Florida.

[John B]

Jun 25, 2024 15:05:19 GMT -5 coachdoc said:

I’m sorry. Ice hockey should not be played in Florida.

I felt the same way about San Jose when I lived there.