If I have my stats right, no other NHL team has more Canadians on it than the Oilers, so despite every fan having their hearts with THEIR particular team, the Oilers really are Canada's team.
Watching as many of the playoff games as I can, it looks to me as if the Oilers have been learning how to play playoff hockey. Games 6-7 vs the Canucks definitely. Last night that first Dallas goal was a direct result of a fk up and really many of the goals in the other series were the same. You turn over in your end, you are going to pay for it. The missing element in the Oilers the past few seasons was defence and their current group are as solid as any in the league. No goals on their PK for what 17-18 penalties? That could be the difference in every series. People have been throwing around all kinds of insults about McDavid - pretty poor form people. Any team anywhere in the world would want the world's best player and whether he scores or assists, any time he is on the ice, things can happen, fast.
I am thinking this series could go 7 as what I saw last night was two pretty evenly matched teams. Entertaining end to end game or what!! The real issue will be if the Rangers-Panthers will beat themselves up or get some rest. Winning a Stanley Cup is as much the last man standing as it is the best team.
So ... Go Oilers!
