2024 Semifinal Game 5: Oilers at Stars

I have strong and distinct memories of deep playoff runs that result in a Stanley Cup victory for the teams I follow. It’s always been thus. When the Bruins won in 1970, we lived in Burns Lake, British Columbia. Our television broke during the final, so I had to listen to the CBC radio call (CBC radio is a wonderful thing). When the announcer said “Orr flies through the air, and scores!” I envisioned him actually flying.

You may have seen it, we’ve all seen the photo, but my memory of that event is one I’ll cherish forever.

In 1984, I remember being nervous before Game 5. The Islanders were absolutely hurt all over the roster, but the final two games were going to be played in Nassau County. In the previous series, the one against the Minnesota North Stars, Edmonton played a complete game in closing out the upstart Minnesotans. Grant Fuhr got hurt in that series, another worry, but he would play the final game of that series. Dino Ciccarelli was the only man to beat him.

I remember that series against the Islanders so well. The 1-0 game that opened the final was so intense I don’t know if I could survive another one like it. Did you know that Wayne Gretzky had a significant goal-scoring drought against the Islanders entering the 1984 final? Wayne freaking Gretzky! It’s true. During the 1982-83 season and playoffs, he had one goal in seven games. This is peak Gretzky, that’s headline news. He scored October 8, then failed to score in two additional regular-season games and all four playoff losses in the final.

In 1983-84, he scored in an 8-5 loss at the end of the game (it was No. 300 of his brilliant career) in mid-December 1983. He mentioned that goal giving him hope entering the 1984 final, as he reflected on Billy Smith’s ability to stone his offensive sorties.

Gretzky would score four times in the 1984 final, including two in Game 4 and Game 5.

The most memorable goal (for me) in Oilers history came in Game 5, on a line change of all things. The Islanders shot the puck into Edmonton’s zone and made for the bench, and (I haven’t seen it in some time) Jari Kurri raced back to retrieve the puck. Kurri sent an absolute bullet pass to 99 who was waiting at the red line (center), where they would place the Yellow Pages sign just a few years later. By the time the Islanders realized what was happening, it was too late. 99 roared into the zone, put a fantastic deke on Billy Smith (who was so hated by Oilers fans it’s difficult to describe) and scored the opener. Five minutes later, Gretzky from Kurri happened again and the legend of Billy Smith saw a sudden end.

TONIGHT’S GAME

There isn’t much to say about tonight, not really. The Oilers are a strong team, built for this moment and able to win a game in more than one way. The dragon is there to be slayed, the opportunity for this team to walk together forever is laid out before them. In their way is another team with the same dream, and after that another team.

The thing about winning the Stanley Cup is that it’s the ultimate ‘so what?’ and it is the toughest thing to win. You beat the Kings? So what? You beat the Canucks? So what? You won a huge Game 4 against Dallas? So what? If anything, the Stanley Cup hurdle adds a little to the end so it becomes ‘so what? F you!’ until a team wins it all.

If the Oilers win tonight, and win this series, a very different opponent will be coming their way from the other conference. It’s going to be madness, I’ll tell you that for sure. The first game of recognizable 2020’s hockey in the series came last night. The previous games were most similar to a Flyers-Bruins tilt maybe 1975. When you are watching a hockey game with flying elbows without Mark Messier or John Ferguson in it, well, that’s an outlier.

If the Oilers do make it all the way and win Stanley this spring, I want you to drink it all in. Notice the sky, the warmth of the sun, the taste of a cold beer in the backyard, the barbecue on a Sunday, the beauty in the woman or man you married, the children you have the honor to raise.

I remember the 1984 win and think of all of the people in my life at that time. It’s a sweet set of memories in a lifetime of blessings. I get emotional at times like those, I cried and so did my friend Lorne Starko. I don’t know if Jo-Anne cried, but I can see her smile and remember her hair (she had a tight perm that she hated at that time. Funny what you remember).

As a fan, I learned it’s about the journey, and the people who are with you as it happens. Please drink it all in, please enjoy this experience win or lose. Someone said we cheer for laundry, and technically that’s true. However, the laundry represents a community, a cause, a group, your group, who have survived long nights driving to the rink in -40 (with a wind chill) when the only reason was Ales Hemsky (who was a very good reason). You enjoy this, dammit. I insist.

We set the stage for a pivotal game on the Lowdown starting at noon today. Guests include Steve Lansky, Tyler Yaremchuk and we’ll have Declanations with Declan Krueger. I might get a little melancholy today, this is a rare time in Oilers history and it’s been some years since we could contemplate a visit from our friend Stanley. We don’t look the same, we’ve lost some beautiful people along the way, but we are here to witness and to chronicle and to laugh and cry. Together. You can reach me at Lowetide on twitter, in the comments section or on the Sports 1440 text line at 1.833.401.1440 directly. Question: Would you like to see an updated 2024 Lowetide draft list later this week?