Game 6, 2024 Quarterfinal: Canucks at Oilers

Bottom line, the entire sport is built around the Stanley Cup. When it comes to romancing a sport, baseball’s poetry and prose has no equal. The one thing that hockey owns is the power of its championship and the trophy given. The history of the game is written in the names that have adorned the Stanley. It’s for all time. It can never be taken away. It rewards all men who reach the peak of the game equally and allows no intruders (sorry, Basil).

You have to earn it. That means blood, sweat and tears, gashes and pulled muscles, bruises and broken bones. Winning Stanley is a career achievement of the highest order, not winning Stanley is the cruelest cut of all.

On the day Edmonton reaches a game where elimination is possible, I always reflect on the men who may not pass this way again. You know, Evander Kane turns 33 in August, he has never won a Stanley. Derek Ryan is 37, Samwise 35 and he’s barely played in a postseason game during a long career.

I think of a player like Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, 31 now and he’s been to hell and back again. Surely winning the Stanley Cup at this age would represent justice for the 50,000 miles of bad road traveled with poor teams in his early years. Stanley isn’t about justice, not really, in fact luck is a major factor in winning the damn thing.

TONIGHT

The Oilers were humbled in Game 5, unable to create the play to win the game after the unfortunate second goal allowed. I expected Connor McDavid to set his jaw, say to hell with the noise, and score the winner. Perhaps that comes tonight.

I will watch with interest the moves of Kris Knoblauch this evening. He had so many correct tweaks before Game 4 I called it a Scotty Bowman night. Man, everything he touched was a winner. Music!

I think Game 5 was a different animal and don’t put the blame on the coach. Evan Bouchard’s misstep was unfortunate, but just like 1986 after the Steve Smith own-goal, Edmonton had plenty of time to make up for it.

I think the coach was correct in running his PP men heavy in Game 5. The group is his magic wand, he needed a goal. I’d do the same.

I’m not sure about the starter tonight. I’m a Stuart Skinner fan, and the possible storyline (redemption!) is too good to resist. Still, I think it’s fair to say that Calvin Pickard has given his team a chance to win during his time in net and that’s the job.

Everyone has an idea about how to tweak the roster, I don’t really have much to add. I do think that Connor Brown and Mattias Janmark are showing up in good places on the video, maybe that’s an area that can be utilized.

The pre-game story is pretty clear: Since he arrived in town, the Oilers success comes when they get good goaltending and Connor McDavid makes things happen, often with Leon Draisaitl in a starring role. Perhaps Evan Bouchard will serve as hero, he has been a pivotal player in this series.

It feels far too early to contemplate the end of the season, but we are here. Ain’t it funny how time slips away. I wish Adam Henrique was healthy.

KEN HOLLAND

All kinds of rumours about Holland going to Columbus and I think it’s hilarious. All of the “well, he’s probably not interested in doing the job past this season” and “no way he’s employable” chatter and the guy walks into a new job. Sports is gonna sport.

My hope for new general manager is Eric Tulsky. He’s done the work, built the resume and the Carolina Hurricanes are well stocked and ready to push for Stanley over the rest of the decade. The Hurricanes are one of the teams that could easily push for Leon Draisaitl and have placed themselves in position to do so, this summer (trade) or next (free agency).

That’s the path Edmonton should take in my opinion. Grabbing Tulsky and Brett Pesce this summer from the land of the Hickory Wind would be a grand play in my opinion.