Playoffs? Who cares about the playoffs in Edmonton? Heck their season ended a month ago when they were 14th in the Western Conference. Why are they so excited? Don't they know they're seven points back of the eighth spot entering play on Tuesday? Don't they know that the team is on pace to break the NHL record for man games lost due to injury? Don't they have any brains, these Oilers players? Are they taking the crack? Why are they playing hockey right now when they should be watching Seinfeld reruns?
Try telling that to Robert Nilsson. Entering play on Tuesday, he had 12 points in his last 14 games, including a seven game point streak in that stretch. Not only has he shown up on the score sheet, he has given Coach Craig MacTavish another weapon to use on the NHL's 5th best penalty killing unit. From the American Hockey League to the National Hockey League, it has been one long journey for Nilsson, and it finally looks like the Ryan Smyth trade is paying off.
Try telling that to Andrew Cogliano. At the ripe age of just 20, he set the NHL record for most consecutive overtime winners, with three. And to add to that, he has 10 points in his last nine games, pushing the Oilers to within striking distance of the playoffs. He has given the coaching staff so much confidence that his average ice time per game has shot up to 18 minutes during the past four games. Without a minute of pro hockey experience before this season, he has stepped in and been the backbone of this team during the stretch run.
Try telling that to Sam Gagner, the league's youngest player. He, also without a minute of pro hockey experience before this season, has contributed 44 points entering play on Tuesday and has the most shootout-deciding goals by a rookie this season.
Try telling that to Steve Staios, Tom Gilbert, Ladislav Smid, Marty Reasoner, Matthieu Garon, Dwayne Roloson, Curtis Glencross, Denis Grebeshkov, Matt Greene, Ales Hemsky, Dustin Penner, Fernando Pisani, Joni Pitkanen, Zach Stortini, Goeff Sanderson, Jarret Stoll, Matthieu Roy and Marc-Antoine Pouliot. I don't think they hear you.
What sets this crop of players apart from the rest of the league is their ability to believe and their willingness to go in, night after night, to fight and scrap for every point on the schedule. They know that the playoffs are a long shot, yet they still believe it can happen. A team without its captain, first line center, and all star defenseman and with 7/25 players under 25 years old can still make the playoffs according to them. They're not in it to be spoilers; they're in it for the real thing, to make it into the NHL's "second season."
Cheer these boys on. They've done you, me and everyone in Edmonton proud. Whether you're watching on TV, listening on the radio, or have the privilege of going to the remaining games, scream your lungs out for these young men.
Turning the seemingly impossible into a real possibility isn't something to scoff at and we Edmontonians should realize that we are watching something truly spectacular.
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5 months ago
Quite the turn around from your previous article. Jump on the bandwagon much? Honestly, I found the article entertaining...nice job.
5 months ago
well bandwagon or not normally i want Mactavish fired(doesnt everyone?) but the way these kids are playing ive decided to give good old mact until umm...err...november lol
the odds of them making the playoffs are long but wtf its fun just playing these "better" nw teams who all think oilers are crap...well...why shouldnt they lol...that way oilers have a great shot to upset them...
do this 8x and we're playing the old wings...
at least we dont have to cheer slugs like mike comrie and ryan smyth anymore(oops sorry oiler fans but smyth was crap in game 7 of the 2006 finals and lowe and my irish head agree on that lol)...oh yeah and "the captain" jason smith
5 months ago
yeah man......had a revelation from god :-)
5 months ago
Tonights game is so huge. Edmonton wins, they are only 3 points back from a 2007-2008 playoff berth. Canucks win, odds are not in Edmontons favor. No matter the result of tonight, the Oilers certainly have turned some heads this past month, especially the newbies. I dont think ANY team is going to under estimate them. If they can beat San Jose, they can beat anyone...
GO CANUCKS!!!
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