Now thats Playoff Hockey

Now before I even comment on the game, I want to comment on the Edmonton fans singing of the national anthem. WOW. I have never seen the person singing the national anthem stop, because the crowd was singing so loudly. Infact I think he stopped because the "delay" of the fans voices from his own singing, was throwing off his tempo. Now I am not one to get all mushy eyed, but I am a patriotic kind of guy, and, well, that was pretty touching. Especially in light of what happened with the National Anthem in San Jose. What does it mean to be Canadian, it means you cheer the American Anthem, even when they boo ours. And then you sing the Canadian Anthem like you are trying to evoke the Gods of Hockey to come down and smite your American Rivals. GOOD JOB EDMONTON.

But now on to the Game

A couple of fights early in the first period pretty much set the tone for game three between the Oilers and the Ducks. No one seemed to be ammune,and the penalties were handed out evenly between the big and little guns. It was a very physical game, and a real war inwhich the Oilers seemed to dominate till midway through the third period.

Let me just say, it is never over till its over, especially with the Oilers. I have seen them drop a two goal lead in the last two minutes of a game and come out the loser. SO what happened in the third period last night was no surprise. And luckily for me I was not watching the aneurism provoking action. For as luck would have it I needed to go to the hospital to visit Kelly. Now you could imagine I did not want to do this while the Oilers were engaged in such an awesome game. However, when Pronger scored to make the game 4-1 I pretty much thought the game was in the bag. So I headed off to the hospital.

The reception in the truck was spotty at best. 630 Ched is an edmonton station but we do get it in Calgary for the most part. Anyway it was so spotty that I turned it off for most of the drive to the Hospital, however when I did get close I wanted to know the score before heading into that "oh so sterile place that I hate so much". And low and behold it is 5-3 with minutes remaining. "What the fuck" and then no sooner had I turned into the parking lot, its 5-4 with just over a minute left. I cant believe what I am hearing. You are not going to tell me that the Oilers are going to blow a 4-1 lead in the third. I am sitting in the parking lot listening to the game. The reception is crappy, and fading in and out, when it goes into the boards you can only hear sticks hitting ice, bodies hitting each other. The tension is about as high as it can get.

For a moment I am whisked back in time, when as a thirteen year old I used to play fun games at the outdoor rink, and while doing so we usually had a radio close by. On those nights when the Oilers played we would listen to them, and pretend we were the ones the commentators were giving the play by play of. However, when a nail biter like last night erupted, all the guys would stop playing and skate over to the shack. We would sit at the edges of our seat, much like I was in my truck last night. We would sit waiting for another goal from the Oilers, or the buzzer. Tic Toc. Another goal or the buzzer. Tic Toc. Another goal or the Buzzer."Moog wont let one in, he's got the golden glove" says Scotty. Tic Toc. Another goal or the buzzer. Tic Toc. "Gretskys gonna score with one second left you watch." Says Grant. Tic Toc. Another goal or the buzzer. Tic Toc

Luckily last night the buzzer came, and the Oilers skated away with a third victory. One step closer, and one step away, from a birth in the Stanley Cup Playoff game. GO OILERS GO