In case any Oiler fan out there has been living under a rock for the past couple weeks you undoubtedly know that Sidney Crosby will play his first game in Edmonton Wednesday night. Lost in all the Crosby hype is the fact that the Pittsburgh Penguins will be playing in Edmonton for the first time in what seems like more then a decade. Attendance has been decreasing in some markets you’d think it would never happen…Detroit for example, the proclaimed Hockeytown U.S.A didnt even sell out on opening night and continue to struggle (albeit not terribly) with attendance despite icing one of the best teams in the N.H.L for numerous years. Colorado is another who after 450 plus consecutive sellouts seen that streak end this season. One wonders why…well I know why.

The N.H.L schedule.

Every great sports fan loves a rivalry. The Philadelphia Eagles have the New York Giants, the Washington Redskins have the Dallas Cowboys, the Sens have the Maple Leafs, and of course the Oilers have the Flames. Everytime you take in a Battle of Alberta the atmosphere (whether in Rexall or Pengrowth) is intenser, the games are faster, and you can feel a legitimate hate between both teams. Every season those 6 (or 4) games had the adrenaline of playoff hockey and people never walked away thinking they wasted there money.

Unfortuantly it was this philosophy that the N.H.L thought would help sell the market to fans south of the border and bring them back after a year long lockout. At first it was great, but as time wore on it got worse and worse.

The Oil have struggled for the most part this season but when you get bored going to games regardless of how your favorite team is doing something is wrong. Night in and night out its the same old story…Calgary, Vancouver, Colorado, Calgary, Vancouver, Minnesota, Colorado, Minnesota, Minnesota…you get the point. BORING.

Its no wonder why people are so hyped about the Pittsburgh game Wednesday night, we get to see one of the games best players and we dont have to watch a team from our own division…FINALLY.

Thankfully the N.H.L has adopted a new schedule for next season and while not perfect (in my opinion) it at least offers a healthy douse of every N.H.L team. While the Crosby game is a big seller this season knowing he wont be making a trip once every 4 years makes the sting a little less to those not fortunate enough to have tickets Wednesday night.

Cripes you know its been long the last time Pittsburgh was in town because M.A. Fleury was the next BIG thing and the savior of the Penguins apparently…now look at him.

Walks
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