I think Kelly Hrudey said it best in the first intermission, “I love it”.  For anyone who watched tonights second half of Hockey Night in Canada between the Canucks and Oilers that didn’t “love it” you have got some serious issues we need to sit down and discuss.  I’ve spent a lot of time watching hockey games, both on television and in person this season and this was without a doubt one of the most entertaining games you would have seen all year.

Let’s start with the obvious, both teams haven’t had the types of seasons they were looking for and both have suffered miserably through a bad stretch of injuries.  Unfortunately for the Oilers there post season hopes have all but fizzled away while the Canucks are teetering on and off the ladder with that final playoff spot.  Still Edmonton has managed to put up a fight as they refuse to give up on the season having won 4 of there last 5 games before heading into tonights contest with Vancouver.

It had the makings for a great game and it didn’t disappoint.  Right from the get go with Stortini and Richie jawing at each other you knew full well it was going to be a war and over the course of 60 minutes it didn’t let up, scrums after every whistle, heavy hitting (which you rarely seem to see anymore) from both clubs, quality goaltending, and an abundance of scraps, the only thing missing was Garon and Luongo at center ice.

Which leads me to my next point?  Where has this emotion been all season and why does it seem so hard for each club to come ready to the rink each night?  If either team played like they had tonight on a regular basis I have a hard time believing both wouldn’t be fairing a bit better in the standings.  Streaks are apart of not just hockey but professional sports  and when you’re losing you get out of it by working hard, bringing emotion, and heart.  It sounds silly but something as simple as a blocked shot or big hit go a long way in the game of hockey as simple plays like that help elevate the whole teams game, its just to bad I’ve had to patiently watch as the majority of Oiler players coasted through games looking like nothing more then a bunch of guys waiting to collect there pay cheques.

If anything this should be a good indication about how both teams need to play from here on out.  Unfortunately (being a skeptic and all)I have a tough time believing either will make the post season given there frequent let downs after big games.  The Oilers are young and inexperienced and the Canucks are realizing what happens when you’re on the other side of all those one goal games, something I said both clubs would struggle with at the beginning of the season.  Either way if one club does squeak into the playoffs it will be short lived (unless there respective goalie literally steals a series).

On the plus side for the Oilers you have to tip your hat to the fourth line.  I’ve been Zack Stortini’s biggest critic all season but I have to give credit where credit is due with how he has elevated his game the last month.  Do I think he is a heavyweight?  Absolutely not but he is exactly what this team has been lacking for quite some time, an agitator.  An agitator willing to at least hit clean and drop the gloves mind you, something a guy like Matt Cooke will never be (which hopefully persuades a goon like Boogard to end his career). Harsh?  Maybe, but how anyone can respect a guy who plays dirty and then refuses to pay the price, drop the gloves, or leave the bench when the game gets a little rough.  Our fourth line is what we have been missing for a long long time, a line that brings energy and not just full of checkers like Reasoner, Pisani, Moreau etc.

How about little Sam Gagner?  Dropping the gloves with a guy who outreaches him by probably a good 5 inches and still manages to hold his own, I can’t say enough for a guy who is 18 years old yet shows even at that age what a world class player he is.  It may be a little premature to say but Gagner is a superstar in the making, maybe not one in the mold of Ovechkin or Kovalchuck but Gagner’s brilliant on ice vision and slick hands make him a special player, all this while being 18 years old.

I hope Oiler fans pay attention closely as to just how good this team could possibly be in the next couple years, especially when you consider that the majority of our best players are all under the age of 25. And for those that dont know we still have a slew of potential prospects in both the CHL and college ranks having breakout seasons.

The past two seasons have been tough to watch but results will come people, we are swimming with top notch rookies and prospects, we have a solid core of veterans, a revitalized star goalie, and a new owner who has the ability to not only keep this team together but to make it better.  If this team shows even an ounce of emotion like it did tonight with the rich talent it is developing the future will be very bright for the Edmonton Oilers.

Walks
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