“You know I couldn’t let Edmonton win”

[OutOfTheCube]

Originally Posted by Locke

The thing is...I know Oiler fans will tout that they were 1 win away.

But thats not the honest truth.

I've been on both sides of games like this. Once Florida was up 3-0 their foot was well and truly off the gas. They thought they had it in the bag.

As soon as the situation got real again? It wasn't even a contest.

That is literally the honest truth.

[dino7c]

The Oilers were closer to losing in round two than winning the cup

[howard_the_duck]

Originally Posted by dino7c

The Oilers were closer to losing in round two than winning the cup

The Oilers were wayyyyyy too close to winning the cup.

Let’s not pretend it wasn’t an eyelash away from happening.

[Calgary4LIfe]

I like the way it worked out, really, and the Oilers almost won it. However, that's not the focus for me. The focus for me is how Edmonton that series.. TWICE!


Imagine how dejected and sad all the Oilers fans were after game 3. Everyone thought it was over. So many fans in tears, seeing their magical ride over with. Oilers (to their credit) fought back to force a game 7. All the momentum was on their side. The Oilers fans were once again whipped into a feverish fervour, believing that their amazing team was going to be the one to bring the cup back to Canada, and be anointed as "Canada's Team". Then they lose that game, and the tears come out again.




I am not of the opinion that the Oilers didn't have a chance. They wrestled the momentum back. They could very well have won, but the Panthers best players were better that game than the Oilers' best players, and they are the ones that got to lift the trophy. I am entering this season with a bit of fear as I do see this season as the Oilers' best chance for the foreseeable future, as we all know their contract situation. However, after that long run last year, and they being the oldest team in the league, and just having lost a lot of team speed, grit and youthful enthusiasm, I don't see them repeating. They will challenge for the division, win a round (depending on who they match up with), and will probably run out of gas after that.

[PepsiFree]

Close doesn’t matter and should be no comfort. The Flames were closer and haven’t been back since.

The best part of how close they were was how much worse it made it for them.

[Paulie Walnuts]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

Close doesn’t matter and should be no comfort. The Flames were closer and haven’t been back since.

The best part of how close they were was how much worse it made it for them.

Easy to say now.

[drewtastic]

Originally Posted by Paulie Walnuts

Easy to say now.

Fun too!

[McG]

Originally Posted by drewtastic

Fun too!

Tastes great and less filling!

[Sainters7]

Originally Posted by dino7c

The Oilers were closer to losing in round two than winning the cup

It's annoying because if Vancouver just finishes that series off, I think the vibe in Greaserville is totally different regarding last year: yet another disappointing playoff showing. May make it seem hopeless about their chances of winning a Cup there, and Crysaitl may not have extended due to it.

Instead, they were 1 win away, and now everyone is hungry to finish it off there. Stupid Canucks...made us feel dirty cheering for them as long as possible within a best of 7 series, and still let us down in the end. Buncha bums

[midniteowl]

In 2006, the Oilers were one game away from winning the Stanley Cup as well. I couldn't recall, did they come back the next season and claimed the holy grail?

[Locke]

Originally Posted by midniteowl

In 2006, the Oilers were one game away from winning the Stanley Cup as well. I couldn't recall, did they come back the next season and claimed the holy grail?

You know...my memory is a little hazy on that one but I'm not sure that they did.

Did they also over-spend on a bunch of over-the-hill support players? I just can't remember.

[activeStick]

Think about how much it hurt you in 2004 when the Flames lost. Now, think about all that hope Oiler fans had after coming back from a 1-3 series deficit to get to play a Game 7, and add that to what you felt in 2004. Thinking about how they felt was the absolute best part of this last hockey season.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by Sainters7

It's annoying because if Vancouver just finishes that series off, I think the vibe in Greaserville is totally different regarding last year: yet another disappointing playoff showing. May make it seem hopeless about their chances of winning a Cup there, and Crysaitl may not have extended due to it.

Instead, they were 1 win away, and now everyone is hungry to finish it off there. Stupid Canucks...made us feel dirty cheering for them as long as possible within a best of 7 series, and still let us down in the end. Buncha bums

this is 100% true, so we can hate the Canucks too

still 1000 things broke right for the Oilers and they still didn't win the cup and that is a big LOL

[Sainters7]

Oh I definitely hate the Canucks more from that. Ensure we have to feel ill pulling for them for an entire 2 weeks straight by going the distance, only to blow it anyway. I'd rather they just got dusted 10-0 every game in 8 days and get it over with. Useless..

[Robbob]

Originally Posted by TrentCrimmIndependent

This is how I'll always see it. So satisfying!

And Lombo, he went down for a tan and to extinguish the oilers dreams and then came back when the job was done.

Best part of Lomberg coming back is that it will spice up the BoA. He can just skate around asking if they want to see his cup ring.

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by midniteowl

In 2006, the Oilers were one game away from winning the Stanley Cup as well. I couldn't recall, did they come back the next season and claimed the holy grail?

Chris Pronger did.

[bc-chris]

Originally Posted by Sainters7

Oh I definitely hate the Canucks more from that. Ensure we have to feel ill pulling for them for an entire 2 weeks straight by going the distance, only to blow it anyway. I'd rather they just got dusted 10-0 every game in 8 days and get it over with. Useless..

i think that two week stretch was the dirtiest i've ever felt in my life

[manwiches]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

Close doesn’t matter and should be no comfort. The Flames were closer and haven’t been back since.

The best part of how close they were was how much worse it made it for them.

Close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades.

My dream scenario played out this past year when they caught lightning in a bottle and lucked out on their draw. Game 7 Loss. The only thing better would have been OT loss by a Pylon Nurse giveaway up the middle.

I cheered just as hard as when Johnny scored Game 7 against Dallas.

[Ba'alzamon]

See, I don't agree at all that the Oilers losing in game 7 of the final was the best outcome. IMO, the best outcome would have been them missing the playoffs by 1 point after trading all their picks at the deadline. Next best would have been a first round exit. Then a second round exit. And so on.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by Ba'alzamon

See, I don't agree at all that the Oilers losing in game 7 of the final was the best outcome. IMO, the best outcome would have been them missing the playoffs by 1 point after trading all their picks at the deadline. Next best would have been a first round exit. Then a second round exit. And so on.

best case scenario is locking in their core to massive raises and then missing the playoffs by a point or losing early in the playoffs for a decade.

it seems close to reality IMO