Two nights ago, the San Jose Sharks claimed the Western Conference Championship and advanced to the Stanley Cup Final. Ten years ago, the Sharks were a victim in the second round of the playoffs to an Edmonton Oilers team going on the same exact journey.
Ten year ago today, the Edmonton Oilers clinched the west. After entering the playoffs as a lowly eight seed, Edmonton stunned Detroit and then San Jose. That set up, as you all know, a date with the Might Ducks of Anaheim.
Coming into the series, Edmonton was on fire. The Oilers took out Detroit in six games thanks to Ales Hemsky and Fernando Pisani’s late game heroics. In round two, they stormed back from a 2-0 deficit to win that series in six games as well.
Against the Ducks, Edmonton jumped out to a 3-0 lead thanks to Dwayne Roloson and Mike Peca. Roloson was sensational, giving up only two goals in the two games in California, while Peca led the offense with what seemed like a breakaway goal a night.
The Oilers then went on to win one of the most entertaining playoff games I have ever watched, game three, by a score of 5-4. The Oil nearly blew a 4-0 lead in the third period, while Georges Laraque fired up the crowd after knocking down Todd Fedoruk…..twice.
I know it’s a long video but, if you can, watch and enjoy this one friends. A lot of memories came back watching this.
The Oilers would lose game four, but the flu bug could be blamed for that. The team clearly had no energy in that tilt, but they still nearly pulled off a comeback in the late stages.
On May 27th, the Oilers went to Anaheim and, back stopped by a Roloson gem, beat the Ducks 2-1 to advance to the Stanley Cup Finals.
The Oilers victory in this game forever stays with me for a few reasons. First off, this was the first time (and only time…) that I’ve ever seen a hockey team I root for win a major trophy. To win the west, especially after being such an underdog, was special to me. As a 6th grade student in the suburbs of Boston, it gave me pride to wear that old third jersey to school.
I’ll also never forget it because I, like many of you, have vivid memories of watching this game. I had been sneaking out and watching (sorry Dad) the games throughout the playoffs, but this one was permitted and the old man tagged along and watched with me.
It was also the peak of the Oilers run. It completed an 8-1 mark in their last nine games, the hottest such streak of that postseason. Edmonton wasn’t just beating teams either, they were crushing them. After this game, I truly believed that Edmonton was going to roll over Buffalo or Carolina in the Cup Final. It was the most confident I have ever been as a fan.
I still remember ordering my hat and t-shirt the next morning before heading off to school, and yes, I still have them.
This win is a historical marker for Oiler fans. It’s the last time Edmonton won a playoff series and it was the franchise’s seventh conference championship. It also marked the beginning of what would be a painful stretch. In the coming weeks, Edmonton would lose game seven to Carolina, would see Chris Pronger request a trade AND see Pronger get moved to Anaheim. That ushered in the decade of darkness.
Today, however, we look back at a great time in Oiler history. Edmonton, on this day ten years ago, clinched a berth in the Stanley Cup Final and became the first ever number eight seed to reach the Championship round in the NHL. Teams have done it since, but this group was the first, and arguably the most impressive/most surprising.
Soon, we will have new moments, but for now we look back a decade to a golden day. What a ride this was, man.
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