Stanley Cup

Edmonton vs. Carolina - Game 7, Stanley Cup Final

2006-06-19T23:02:19Z

Oilers, 'Canes meet for all the marbles

]]> By Jesse Campigotto

Stanley Cup final. Game 7. Need I say more?

Allright, you twisted my arm. The fact that this series is going the limit seems fitting, given how even it's been.

Consider: Both teams have eked out a 2-1 win. Both teams have registered a blowout - Carolina won Game 2 by a convincing 5-0 score and Edmonton is coming off its 4-0 pounding of the Hurricanes in Saturday's Game 6. And, of course, both teams have won three games apiece.

In fact, if any team can claim an edge heading into Game 7, it's the Oilers, who are riding a two-game winning streak after dominating Game 6 even more thoroughly than the lopsided score would suggest.

But Carolina, which has scored one more goal than Edmonton in the series, promises to be refreshed by its return to the friendly confines of the legendary RBC Centre in the hockey hotbed of Raleigh.

Either way, anything can (and will) happen tonight. After all, it's down to one game. For all the marbles. Enough said.

GAME OVER

Thanks for joining us tonight. And thanks for following CBC's coverage of the Stanley Cup playoffs, both online and on television. It's been a slice. See ya next season.

GAME OVER

Congrats to the Hurricanes on their first-ever Cup. And a tip of the hat to all the old Hartford Whalers supporters out there. This has to be bittersweet for them. And this has to be just plain bitter for Edmonton fans, who lent their team a tremendous amount of support all year, and especially in the playoffs. But, being so improbable, this playoff run had to be an extra-fun ride. You guys sure made the most of it.

GAME OVER

One of my favourite Stanley Cup traditions: hearing players spray copious f-bombs all over the rink while hoisting the Cup. The Hurricanes do not let me down.

GAME OVER

Before handing the Cup to Carolina captain Rod Brind'Amour, Gary Bettman says, "[Hurricanes owner] Peter Karmanos had a dream that hockey could work in Carolina." Actually, Gary, I think Peter (who moved the team from Hartford) had a dream that he could extract more television and luxury box revenue in Carolina.

GAME OVER

It's time for the Conn Smythe presentation. And the winner is... Cam Ward.

GAME OVER

This is the second straight year in which a Canadian team lost Game 7 of the final. The '93 Canadiens remain the last Canadian club to win the Cup.

GAME OVER

The ecstasy and the agony: the Hurricanes celebrate wildly as many Oilers reamain on the bench, watching with long faces the celebration they surely thought they'd be a part of.

THIRD PERIOD, 20:00

Final score: Edmonton 1, Carolina 3. Hurricanes win Stanley Cup.

THIRD PERIOD, 18:59

Edmonton 1, Carolina 3.And that's that. Justin Williams scores an empty-netter. The Carolina Hurricanes will win the Stanley Cup.

THIRD PERIOD, 18:46

The Oilers talk things over in a time out. This is it.

THIRD PERIOD, 18:17

Another great chance for Pisani, who took a feed in the slot and was ready to shoot, but a Carolina player lifted his stick at the last second. The Oilers are really pressuring. Marrkanen is off for an extra attacker.

THIRD PERIOD, 16:20

Cam Ward makes a potential Cup-saving stop. Pisani charged in for a rebound and didn't get good wood on it, allowing Ward to get his left pad out to stop the puck from going into the gaping net.

THIRD PERIOD, 14:38

Another precious-metal opportunity squandered by the Oilers. With Mr. Kristi Yamaguchi (aka Bret Hedican) off for roughing, Edmonton works the puck around nicely on the power play but can't score the equalizer.

THIRD PERIOD, 11:30

Cup caretaker Phil Pritchard is shining up the trophy behind the scenes. He seems to enjoy his once-a-year time in the spotlight. I wonder if he shined the Cup at home last year during the lockout. And then presented it to himself. And then proceeded to drink champagne out of it until it ended up at the bottom of his swimming pool.

THIRD PERIOD, 8:57

Great action here in the third. We just went several minutes without a whistle as the Oilers press and the Hurricanes try to keep them at bay. The offence is pretty much all Edmonton right now. This has to be tough for Hurricanes fans. There's nothing worse than watching your team sit back and cling to a one-goal lead in the third period of a game. Well, until the other team scores.

THIRD PERIOD, 3:01

The Oilers are playing like a desperate team. I mean that in a good way. They're really pressuring Carolina and had a couple of chances to tie it with shots in close. Radek Dvorak, who did nothing for so long until springing to life in Game 6, had a good chance as he tried to split two defenders but had the puck taken away.

THIRD PERIOD, 1:03

Edmonton 1, Carolina 2. As Bill Walton would say, Go to the net, young man. Pisani charges to the goal and bangs in the rebound off a rebound to put the Oilers right back in the game. Huge goal.

SECOND PERIOD, 20:00

Edmonton kills off the Smyth penalty, but Carolina has a 2-0 lead after two periods. It's not impossible for the Oilers to score three goals to win this game, but it sure looks unlikely.

SECOND PERIOD, 18:23

The Carolina penalties expire and now the Hurricanes will have a 5 on 4 for 59 seconds.

SECOND PERIOD, 17:21

Make that an aluminum opportunity. Smyth takes an unthinkable penalty, hooking a Carolina player in the offensive zone to reduce the Oilers' advantage to 4 on 3.

SECOND PERIOD, 16:12

Make that a platinum opportunity. Aaron Ward was just called for shooting the puck over the glass in his own end, giving the Oilers a two-man advantage for 1:56.

SECOND PERIOD, 16:16

A lengthy stretch without a whistle ends without any good scoring chances. The Oilers are having a tough time breaking through the Maginot Line Carolina has constructed at its blue-line. But good news for Edmonton: the whistle was for a penalty on Nic Wallin. Golden opportunity for the Oilers.

SECOND PERIOD, 10:01

The Oilers looked to have a great opportunity a minute ago with Ryan Smyth and Shawn Horcoff streaking in. But Smyth tried a back pass to no one, wasting the chance.

SECOND PERIOD, 6:17

Cole was just shaken up when he was hit from behind (!) by Pronger as he tried to take a pass along the boards in the Carolina end. Cole stayed on, though, and looks to be okay.

SECOND PERIOD, 4:18

Edmonton 0, Carolina 2. With Spacek in the box, the Hurricanes strike eight seconds into the power play as Kaberle fires a point shot that hits Jason Smith, who was sprawling to block the shot, and beats Markkanen.

SECOND PERIOD, 4:00

Markkanen just made the save of the night, sliding over to rob Recchi with his right pad on what looked to be a sure goal off a 2 on 1.

SECOND PERIOD, 1:58

We'll be back with more Fashion File later. Fernando Pisani just had the OIlers' best chance of the game when he broke in and fired a shot from the hash marks, but it went wide.

FIRST INTERMISSION

Kudos to Don Cherry, who finally eschewed the floral-print blazers and went with a classic pinstriped number for tonight's Coach's Corner.

FIRST PERIOD, 20:00

Edmonton dodges a bullet by avoiding the penalty shot, but still heads to the dressing room trailing 1-0. And they'll have to do some penalty killing to start the second period.

FIRST PERIOD, 19:55

We finally get the call: no goal (which we already knew) and no penalty (shot or otherwise) on Staios. Still, the Oilers will be shorthanded because of the original penalty on Moreau. Got it?

FIRST PERIOD, 19:55

They're still discussing that play. Complicating matters is the fact that a delayed penalty was being called on the Oilers, so as soon as they touch the puck the whistle goes. I guess the debate is over what constitutes the "touch" - Markkanen's save doesn't because he didn't control the puck, but should Staios' (apparently) illegal gloving of the puck in the crease count? And would that whistle then supercede a potential penalty shot call? Glad I'm not Bill McCreary right now.

FIRST PERIOD, 19:55

The Hurricanes nearly score when a shot hits Makkanen, bounces up and trickles toward the goal line. But defenceman Steve Staios dives in and sweeps the puck out with his glove. The refs are talking it over. A penalty shot could be on the way.

FIRST PERIOD, 17:33

After some great end-to-end action, the Oilers' Matt Green nails Matt Cullen with an elbow at the Edmonton blue-line and is called for a penalty. The hit is vintage Green - overexuberant and totally unnecessary.

FIRST PERIOD, 14:15

Edmonton kills off the Spacek penalty rather easily. It will be interesting to see if the referees stick to the NHL's "zero tolerance" policy on hooking and holding in this, Game 7 of the Stanley Cup final.

FIRST PERIOD, 11:03

Jaroslav Spacek (for those unfamiliar with Czech, that translates to "defensive liability" in English) is called for holding - the Oilers' first penalty.

FIRST PERIOD, 10:07

Some great pressure by the Oilers, who got several chances as they kept the puck hemmed in the Carolina zone. As you'd expect, both teams are playing at a breakneck pace to start the game.

FIRST PERIOD, 7:21

The Hurricanes kill off the Staal penalty and are flying all over the rink. Looks like they've turned it around after their sluggish Game 6. Funny how Game 7 of the Stanley Cup final will get you excited.

FIRST PERIOD, 3:17

Our first penalty. Staal goes off for goaltender interference. Let's see if the Oilers power play, which was excellent in Game 6, can keep up the good work.

FIRST PERIOD, 1:26

Edmonton 0, Carolina 1. The Hurricanes fire the first salvo. Aaron Ward blasts a slap shot from the top of the circle through a crowd and past Jussi Markkanen.

FIRST PERIOD, 0:32

Our first stoppage. Harry Neale fills the time before the puck drop with some World War II quotes.

3 MINUTES TO GAME TIME

Goodbye, Carolina Anthem Singer Girl. Happy trails. It's been a great ride.

8 MINUTES TO GAME TIME

What a treat. After being on hiatus since the Olympics ended, the Tim Horton's commerical with the old Asian guy and his son makes its triumphant return. No, I'm not crying. I just have something in my eye. Ming-ming bah!

10 MINUTES TO GAME TIME

Thank you, Raleigh Arena Music Guy. As Ron MacLean and Kelly Hrudey discuss tonight's game, our favourite "dramatic pre-game music" song is heard playing in the background.

15 MINUTES TO GAME TIME

The requisite dramatic pre-game video montage featured music from Nickelback. Okay, I get the Alberta connection, but can we all just come to an agreement that from here on in every dramatic pre-game video montage for every sport will be set to Aerosmith's "Dream On"?

30 MINUTES TO GAME TIME

It will be interesting to see how Hurricanes coach Peter Laviolette uses Erik Cole tonight. After Carolina was drubbed in Game 6, some observers opined that Cole shouldn't have been in the lineup. I disagree - Cole scored 30 goals in 60 games this season and, even though he hadn't played in three months, should be on the ice if he's fit enough to play.

The call I thought was more questionable was Carolina coach Peter Laviolette's decision to put Cole on a line with Eric Staal, the Hurricanes' best player, and the rapidly decomposing Mark Recchi. Perhaps Laviolette thinks Cole can keep up with Staal, but what in the name of Rob Brown is Recchi doing on the top line?

Since coming to Carolina before the trade deadline, "Mr. Minus" has been an anchor - I don't mean that in the "he's a solid player" sense, but rather in the "he's holding the team down" sense. Witness his minus-5 rating in the playoffs - worst among Carolina forwards and second-worst on the team to defenceman Frantisek (I wish I was Tomas) Kaberle's minus-8.

50 MINUTES TO GAME TIME

Even Pete Rose is laying off tonight's game. I mean, a lot of people are saying the Oilers have all the momentum and should be the favourites tonight. But consdier this: the Oilers suffered a heartbreaking one-goal defeat in Game 1, were blown out in Game 2, and were written off as they returned home for Game 3, which they ended up winning. Carolina lost Game 5 in overtime, was blown out in Game 6, and now looks like the Walking Dead as they return home for Game 7.

Just think before you take out that loan at two points a week from that guy who calls himself Billy Bats.

Carolina vs. Edmonton - Game 6, Stanley Cup Final

2006-06-17T23:12:13Z

Oilers look to force Game 7

]]> By Jesse Campigotto

I don't know what to believe any more.

It seemed everyone and their brother (including this game blogger) predicted Carolina would wrap up the Stanley Cup on home ice Wednesday, but the Oilers spoiled the party with a 4-3 overtime win, thanks to Fernando Pisani's brilliant game-winner.

Now everyone and their brother says the Oilers, back in front of their home crowd and with the inalieable, undeniable, unstoppable force of momentum on their side, will surely win tonight to force a seventh and deciding contest in Carolina on Monday.

Hogwash to it all, I say. Let's just enjoy the game. After all, it could be the last. Or not.

GAME OVER

After all this, it's down to one game. Thanks for joining us tonight. We'll be back with more live commentary for Game 7 Monday night at 8:00 p.m. ET.

THIRD PERIOD, 20:00

Final score: Carolina 0, Edmonton 4. What a performance by the Oilers, who dominated as thoroughly as the Hurricanes dominated them in Carolina's 5-0 Game 2 win. Hometown boy Pisani gets the first star. Man, I wish I was on Whyte Ave. tonight.

THIRD PERIOD, 18:02

Radek Dvorak has been all over the ice tonight. I may never get a chance to type that again.

THIRD PERIOD, 13:05

Carolina 0, Edmonton 4. We're goin' to seven. Horcoff one-times a Dvorak pass home from in close to give the Oilers an insurmountable lead.

THIRD PERIOD, 12:07

Pisani got in on a shorthanded breakaway but was hooked by Ray Whitney. A penalty was called, but why not call a penalty shot in that situation? A player on a breakaway had his chance take away by a penalty. Let him take the breakaway again. Would anyone be against liberalizing penalty shot calls? Besides NHL coaches, who are against everything fun.

THIRD PERIOD, 8:30

Shots on goal in the period are 8-1 for Edmonton, giving the Oilers a 29-8 advantage for the game. Shocking brutality.

THIRD PERIOD, 3:04

Carolina 0, Edmonton 3. Ryan Smyth stickhandles in from the side, weaves through several Carolina defenders and beats Ward with a backhand against the grain. It goes without saying, but the Oilers are dominating. Showing up for the game seems to be all the effort Carolina was willing to put in.

THIRD PERIOD, 2:00

Ward just made an UNBELIEVABLE save on Radek Dvorak. The Oilers brilliantly executed a 3 on 1, with Samsonov feeding Dvorak at the side of the net for what looked to be an easy tap-in. But Ward lunged over and made a terrific glove save. The play went to a review because it looked like Ward's glove was over the goal line, but the call wasn't overturned.

SECOND PERIOD, 20:00

The Oilers have a 2-0 lead after two. Carolina looked much better toward the end of the period, but that had a lot to do with the fact that the Oilers took two penalties in the last five minutes. Shots on goal are 21-7 in favour of Edmonton.

SECOND PERIOD, 18:20

Ales Hemsky appears to have a breakaway but the play is whistled due to a penalty to Jason Smith. Hemsky couldn't hear the whistle at first because of the crowd's anticipatory roar. The house might have come down if he's scored.

SECOND PERIOD, 17:53

On a power play, Carolina finally applies some sustained pressure. But Jussi Markkanen, who's barely had to do anything tonight, looks surprisingly sharp in turning the Hurricanes aside.

SECOND PERIOD,12:35

With the Hurricanes being outshot 20-3 (that's right) and looking like they want to get on the first plane back to Carolina and/or just curl up and die, Laviolette calls a timeout. CBC cameras show the red-faced Coach L unleashing a profanity-laced tirade on his players.

SECOND PERIOD, 11:27

The Edmonton crowd smells blood. With the Oilers on a power play thanks to another Hedican penalty, the fans roar every time their team gets near the net.

SECOND PERIOD, 9:54

Carolina 0, Edmonton 2. The Oilers go up two when Raffi Torres converts a nifty tip-in off a Steve Staios point shot. Like Stephen Harper told Scott Oake during the intermission, the Oilers have to go to the net. The new Coach's Corner, ladies and gentlemen, starring your Prime Minister.

SECOND PERIOD, 5:48

One of my least-favourite things in hockey: Cory Stillman and Jaro Spacek are simultaneously called for tripping and diving, respectively. Even as referees have been called upon this year to actually go out on a limb and, you know, make calls, the gutless tripping/diving call remains an NHL staple.

SECOND PERIOD, 1:45

Carolina 0, Edmonton 1. Fernando Pisani opens the scoring on a power play when his backhander from the slot hits Carolina defenceman Glen Wesley, ticks off the post and beats Cam Ward.

SECOND PERIOD, 1:10

Harry Neale informs us that Rod Brind'Amour's face-off percentage is significantly better in the games in Carolina than those in Edmonton, where, as the visitor, he is required to put his stick down first. Doesn't do much to quash the talk that Brind'Amour was cheating at home by not putting his stick down at all before the face-off.

FIRST PERIOD, 20:00

The first period ends with no score. Carolina will start the second with 1:25 of a power play, thanks to a Fernando Pisani penalty near the end of the first.

FIRST PERIOD, 18:05

Cole just delivered a nice bodycheck, then had a good chance to score from in front of the net. Hard to say how long he can keep this up, but he's off to a good start.

FIRST PERIOD, 13:07

Bret Hedican isn't playing like the heady veteran he's purported to be. The Carolina defenceman just attempted a flying elbow right out of the Italian national soccer team playbook and was whistled for his second roughing penalty of the game.

FIRST PERIOD, 9:25

Cole almost picks up an assist when he comes in on goal as part of a Hurricanes 3 on 2 and passes to Staal, who was in a great scoring position in the slot. But Eric misses the net, denying Erik of his storybook assist.

FIRST PERIOD, 8:10

It looked like Edmonton would score on its first power play. The Oilers had a flurry of chances around the Carolina go but couldn't put one in.

FIRST PERIOD, 3:29

A great 3 on 1 chance for the Oilers, but Shawn Horcoff, who has been something close to invisible in this series (1 goal, no assists), botches it with a bad pass.

FIRST PERIOD, 2:18

Carolina coach Peter Laviolette isn't taking it easy on Cole. He started the game on Eric Staal's line.

3 MINUTES TO GAME TIME

Cole is on the Hurricanes bench in full gear.

5 MINUTES TO GAME TIME

One thing I won't miss about the playoffs - Edmonton's elaborate (and somewhat silly) pre-game show, featuring that tune the Black Eyed Peas stole from the Pulp Fiction soundtrack. I know I've mentioned this before, but it gets more and more ridiculous every time I see it.

15 MINUTES TO GAME TIME

Hurricanes forward Erik Cole, who hasn't played in the playoffs due to a neck injury, took the pre-game skate, fuelling speculation that he'll play tonight. During a pre-game interview with Ron MacLean, Carolina's Doug Weight, who himself is out with a shoulder injury suffered in Game 5, gave the indication that he thought Cole would play tonight. Whether this is an elaborate (and somewhat silly) ruse by the Hurricanes, or whether Cole will actually be in the lineup... we'll soon find out.

Edmonton vs. Carolina - Game 5, Stanley Cup Final

2006-06-14T23:07:16Z

Hurricanes try to wrap up first-ever Cup

]]> By Jesse Campigotto

This feels like the end, doesn't it?

After a moderately to wildly successful (depending on who you talk to) post-lockout regular season and two months of playoffs, the NHL could hand out the Stanley Cup tonight if the Carolina Hurricanes can get one more win over the fading Edmonton Oilers.

After a series of exhausting efforts, Edmonton may be out of gas. If tonight's game is the last of the season, it will be the end of a remarkable run by the Oilers, who barely scraped into the post-season, then upset the Red Wings, Sharks and Ducks en route to an improbable appearance in the Cup final.

Now it looks like the deck is stacked against Edmonton as it leaves the friendly confines of Rexall Place for the hostile territory of Raleigh, N.C. to face a surging opponent that's looking for its first Stanley Cup win in franchise history.

Of course, the Oilers of these playoffs have always seemed to have a trick up their sleeves. Maybe they've got one more.

GAME OVER

Thanks for joining us tonight. We'll be back Saturday night with live commentary on Game 6. Go nuts, Oil Country. Tonight belongs to you.

GAME OVER

Contrary to my ill-advised lede, this wasn't the end at all. The Oilers win a highly entertaining contest (the best of the series, methinks) and force a sixth game Saturday in Edmonton. Suddenly we've got a whole new series. You know the Edmonton fans will be in a state somewhere beyond a frenzy Saturday, and if the Oil can win that, anything can happen in Game 7 back in Carolina.

OVERTIME, 3:31

Final score: Edmoton 4, Carolina 3. Fernando Pisani steals the puck from Staal at the Carolina blue-line, goes in on a breakaway and snaps a shot over Ward for the shorthanded game-winner. The Oilers live!

OVERTIME, 3:03

A huge chance coming up for the 'Canes. Steve Staios hauled down Mark Recchi as Recchi tried to break through the Oilers' defence. Power play, Carolina.

OVERTIME, 1:13

Ward just made a game-saver for Carolina, getting his right pad out to stone Radek Dvorak, who spun and fired from the slot.

THIRD INTERMISSION

Time for my OT goal predictions: for the Oilers, Ryan Smyth. For the Hurricanes, Cory Stillman.

THIRD INTERMISSION

Before this game it felt like hockey had run its course. I'm sure fans in Edmonton and North Carolina felt differently, but the past two games were kind of slow, and with the weather warming up and the World Cup underway, I'm sure a lot of people were looking forward to the hockey playoffs coming to an end. But with the action we've seen tonight, I'm hoping we'll see more. At the very least, we'll head into the summer with fond memories.

THIRD PERIOD, 20:00

True to form, the third ends with a flurry of action. The 'Canes had a great chance when Hemsky coughed up the puck to give Carolina a 4 on 2. Staal carried the puck up the left wing and tried to centre it for a one-timer, but his pass went behind his teammate. The period closed with the puck hemmed in the Oilers zone, but Carolina couldn't get the winner. We're goin' to O.T.

THIRD PERIOD, 17:59

The end-to-end action continues. Staal was looking dangerous on a rush seconds ago but lost the puck and put himself offside.

THIRD PERIOD, 14:50

We were just treated to one of the best sequences of the series. First, Carolina peppered Markkanen with scoring chances but the Oilers goalie somehow kept the puck out. On one chance, Whitney was left alone in front but hit the left post. Then the Oilers raced down to the other end and Smyth just missed scoring by re-directing a pass off the rush. If this turns out to be the last game of the season, we're going out with a bang.

THIRD PERIOD, 11:45

It's looking like Harry Neale was right about Weight. He hasn't been seen since the apparent injury to his shoulder.

THIRD PERIOD, 10:37

Carolina kills off the Vasicek penalty. After a rough start, the Hurricanes' penalty killing has tightened up, erasing the last three Edmonton man advantages.

THIRD PERIOD, 7:53

If there was ever a time that the referees would put away the whistles, it would be this - third period, tie game, Cup on the line. Thankfully, though, they haven't. Josef Vasicek was just called for hooking Ryan Smyth - a penalty that wouldn't have been called under this scenario in the "old NHL." It's the 'Canes second penalty of the period, after Mike Commodore was called for holding earlier.

THIRD PERIOD, 3:52

Any fears that the teams would play tentatively, afraid to give up the winning goal, have been assuaged. Both teams seem intent on attacking, so we should by in for an entertaining finish.

THIRD PERIOD, 0:52

Doug Weight is sandwiched by two Oilers and immediately heads to the bench favouring his left shoulder. Harry Neale is of the thinking that Weight will not be back.

SECOND PERIOD, 20:00

Only one goal in the period, but some good action. And what a setup for the third - tie game, next goal could win the Stanley Cup.

SECOND PERIOD, 18:55

Ethan Moreau has been all over the ice tonight. He's had a few good forays into the Carolina zone but just didn't have the speed to beat a defenceman and get himself close enough to the net for a good chance.

SECOND PERIOD, 14:57

There hasn't been as much scoring in the second period, but we're still seeing some very good hockey. There's been some good chances at both ends and plenty of sustained action without any whistles. Again, can we just all agree to play Games 6 and 7 (if necessary) in Raleigh? I love the Edmonton crowd and everything, but the hockey has been more entertaining in Carolina.

SECOND PERIOD, 9:56

Edmonton 3, Carolina 3. The 'Canes get their third power-play goal of the night, and it's a weird one. Positioned at the side of the Oilers' net, Staal plays a carom off the boards, gets a shot on Markkanen and then pokes him to force the puck into the net.

SECOND PERIOD, 4:11

The Oilers are called for a penalty and, for the second time in the game, Marrkanen heads to the bench, thinking the penalty is on Carolina. Markkanen has also, as usual, looked very shaky handling the puck. I can just see Craig MacTavish pulling him aside and saying, "You know what, Jussi? Don't worry about doing anyting extra. Really. You're doing great in net - just stay there. We'll take care of everything else. Don't go through the trouble. Really. It's fine."

SECOND PERIOD, 0:49

Looks like we're in for more of the same in the second period. Stillman nearly scored about 15 seconds in when he had a whole half of the net to shoot at from in close. But Markkanen slid over and made a nifty pad save to foil the one-timer attempt.

FIRST INTERMISSION

It's almost like these teams take on the personality of the home team. Fourteen goals were scored in Games 1 and 2, which were hosted by the high-flying Hurricanes. Then, six goals were scored in Games 3 and 4, at the home of the tighter-checking Oilers. Is it too late to petition for the rest of the series to be played in Raleigh?

FIRST PERIOD, 20:00

What a period. The Oilers take a one-goal lead into the dressing room after an opening period in which the teams combined for one fewer goal than they scored in the last two games, both tight-checking 2-1 affairs. Tonight's game has the feel of the 5-4 free-for-all we saw in Raleigh in Game 1.

FIRST PERIOD, 19:42

Edmonton 3, Carolina 2. Wow! So much action! With the teams playing 4 on 4, Mike Peca scoops up a rebound and roofs it over a sprawling Ward.

FIRST PERIOD, 18:34

The Oilers, who have struggled on the power play all series, nearly scored their second PP goal of the night as Jarrett Stoll wires a shot from the point off the post. Maybe the Oilers' success even scared them a little because they immediately negated their power play by taking a penalty.

FIRST PERIOD, 13:25

Edmonton 2, Carolina 2. The Oilers finally get a power play of their own and take advantage. Ales Hemsky makes like Phil Niekro (or the fat kid from the Mighty Ducks movies) and fires a high knuckleball-like one-timer that eludes Ward up high. We've got a shootout on our hands.

FIRST PERIOD, 10:16

Edmonton 1, Carolina 2. Including this: Former Oilers stickboy Ray Whitney blasts a slap shot into the upper left corner for the 'Canes second power goal. Jussi Markkanen was screened by Doug Weight and did not see it.

FIRST PERIOD, 9:06

The Hurricanes keep coming with a furious attack and force the Oilers into taking their third penalty - this one to Matt Greene. Apart from that early goal, everything is going Carolina's way.

FIRST PERIOD, 5:54

Edmonton 1, Carolina 1. Eric Staal is stopped once, twice, but not thrice. The Oilers allow him to follow his shots right to the net and he bangs in the rebound off the third one. It's Staal's first goal of the series.

FIRST PERIOD, 5:03

If anything, that goal woke up the Hurricanes and their fans. The 'Canes are all over the Oilers right now and just drew their second penalty of the game. The crowd is acting like that early goal never happened.

FIRST PERIOD, 0:16

Edmonton 1, Carolina 0. And they score! Before you can say Daisy Duke, Chris Pronger stuns the Carolina crowd by firing a point shot through a crowd and in.

MOMENTS TO GAME TIME

The Carolina fans are singing along to the American anthem. Nice try, guys. It's been done.

MOMENTS TO GAME TIME

Perhaps our last look at the Carolina anthem singer. She's got a lovely set of, um, pipes.

2 MINUTES TO GAME TIME

Don Cherry has been outdoing himself all playoffs with his selection of sport jackets. Tonight's features a royal blue, powder blue and purple floral pattern that covers the entire jacket. I love Don, but he's reminding me of a more flamboyantly-dressed Vito Spatafore more and more every day.

7 MINUTES TO GAME TIME

Georges Laracque is out of the lineup and Todd Harvey is in for the Oilers. In other news, the captain of the Titanic feels the deck chairs should be arranged in rows of five.

15 MINUTES TO GAME TIME

It's hurricane season in Raleigh. Note the small h - this is not an attempt at wordplay. CBC just showed footage of the results of a tropical storm, including some pretty significant flooding. The weather seems fine now, but Ron McLean wondered about the integrity of the electricity supply to the arena. So it could be lights out for the Oilers tonight. Now that's wordplay!

Carolina vs. Edmonton - Game 4, Stanley Cup Final

2006-06-12T23:14:47Z

Oilers look to keep rolling

]]> By Jesse Campigotto

Luck can be a fickle friend. Or foe.

It was more the latter for the Edmonton Oilers in Games 1 and 2 of the Stanley Cup final in Carolina, where nothing seemed to go right as the Oilers dropped both games and were forced to go with shaky backup Jussi Markkanen in goal after an injury to starter Dwayne Roloson.

Game 3, though, saw Edmonton experience a reversal of fortune. Ryan Smyth scored the game-winner in the Oilers 2-1 win when a rebound hit him in the chest and trickled in. Markkanen had luck on his side too as the cement-handed Hurricanes botched a number of scoring chances and couldn't seem to avoid shooting the puck directly at the embattled goalie, handing him first-star honours.

So which team will walk into tonight's Game 4 with Lady Luck on its arm? That's anyone's guess. After all, she has a nasty habit of wandering the room to blow on some other guy's dice.

GAME OVER

Thanks for joining us tonight. We'll be back with more live commentary for Game 5 Wednesday night at 8:00 ET.

THIRD PERIOD, 20:00

Final score: Carolina 2, Edmonton 1. Edmonton couldn't get much going with the extra man on, and now they'll head back to Carolina down 3-1 in the series. The always-cheerful Edmonton fans send their team off with a thunderous "Let's go Oil-ers!" chant. Why do I get the feeling that's the last time we'll be hearing that for a while?

THIRD PERIOD, 19:00

Markkanen is off for an extra attacker but the Oilers have done little but work the puck around the perimeter of the Hurricanes zone.

THIRD PERIOD, 18:15

Ryan Smyth looked to be in perfect position for a goal, but Hemsky, who was circling the net, didn't seem him standing alone in front.

THIRD PERIOD, 15:22

This won't help. Jason Smith was called for a dubious hooking penalty for putting his stick on a Carolina player, even though Smith didn't impede his progress at all. I'm all for calling penalties even if a guy is knocked just a half step off stride, but this one had no merit. Maybe it's karma, though. Remember Smith's dive earlier?

THIRD PERIOD, 14:00

As Kelly Hrudey just pointed out, the Oilers don't seem to have much life here in the third period. Neither does this game. The Hurricanes have really choked things up.

THIRD PERIOD, 10:04

I don't know what to think of Hemsky. On one play he'll look like Ryan Smyth's favourite player with his dazzling skating and stickhandling. On the next, he'll fly over the blueline, drop the puck to a teammate and then cruise indifferently toward the net and take himself out of the play by getting tangled up with a defenceman. We just saw the next.

THIRD PERIOD, 7:31

According to Smyth, his favourite player growing up was Gretzky. Which reminds me: CBC had been showing classic Oilers games from the 80s lately and I was struck by how much slower and unrefined the game seemed compared to how it's played now. It was entertaining hockey, for sure, but I felt like I was watching a game of shinny. And the goalies - they were so small. Much more net at which to shoot.

THIRD PERIOD, 6:15

For an offensive team, the Hurricanes are doing an excellent jump of putting the defensive clamp down. The Oilers, who desperately need a goal, haven't been able to do much at all this period.

THIRD PERIOD, 1:05

Markkanen makes perhaps the stop of the night, gloving a Brind'Amour wrist shot from the slot.

SECOND PERIOD, 20:00

Chris Pronger took a penalty with 33 seconds left in the period, so once the penalty to Carolina's Justin Williams for "tripping" Smith expires, the Oilers will have some penalty killing to do.

SECOND PERIOD, 18:35

Carolina had a power play until the Oilers' Jason Smith drew a penalty with a dive that was so over the top, half the strikers in the World Cup were embarassed.

SECOND PERIOD, 15:56

Carolina 2, Edmonton 1. Welcome back, Mr. Staal. Eric makes a gorgeous pass to Mark Recchi (another Carolina enigma) at the side of the net and Recchi lifts it over Markkanen. The assist is Staal's second of the night.

SECOND PERIOD, 14:07

Jussi is doing some good work - there's no doubt. But he still has to make Oilers fans extremely nervous every time he tries to handle the puck. The guy is like the Finnish Dominik Hasek. He nearly gave up a goal a minute ago when he tried to drop the puck off for one of his defencemen and instead left it sitting in the crease. Luckily, the defencemen realized where the puck was before any Hurricanes could pounce on it.

SECOND PERIOD, 12:09

Some good chances at both ends, including a great one for Ryan Smyth, who was sent one of those passes that look like a shot (or shots that look like a pass) by Hemsky and had an open net in which to tip the puck. Smyth tipped it wide, though.

SECOND PERIOD, 8:31

The Oilers are on their heels right now, with Carolina creating one scoring chance after another. I didn't think I'd be saying this, but Markannen is keeping them in the game.

SECOND PERIOD, 5:16

Another great stop by Markkanen as he stacks the pads to rob Ray Whitney. Jussi Fever! Catch it!

SECOND PERIOD, 1:00

Some more nice work by Markkanen as he stops Justin Williams on his attempt to bang in a pass from behind the net with the Hurricanes on the power play.

FIRST PERIOD, 20:00

A pretty entertaining first period ends with the teams tied 1-1. Stoll took a penalty near the end of the period, so the Hurricanes will begin the second with a man advantage.

FIRST PERIOD, 18:10

Jussi is doing his best to prove me wrong. The Hurricanes just got a 2 on 1 led by Ray Whitney, but Markkanen made nice saves on the initial shot and the rebound. On the minus side for the Oilers, they just squandered a 5 on 3.

FIRST PERIOD, 13:10

And Shawn Horcoff is the Oilers' Staal. He was terrific in the first three rounds but, apart from a lovely tip-in goal in Game 3, hasn't been much of a factor in the final. He just had a chance on the power play as he carried the puck into a good scoring area in the slot, but for some reason tried a backhand pass to the point that no one was expecting and the puck left the zone.

FIRST PERIOD, 9:09

Carolina 1, Edmonton 1. Wow, what a flurry. The Oilers opened the scoring with a gorgeous tic-tac-toe passing play between Stoll, Dvorak and Samsonov, who finished it with a pretty tap-in. Then, 29 seconds later, Cory Stillman tied the game for Carolina to extend his point streak to 12 games. Stillman is the new Staal.

FIRST PERIOD, 7:50

Eric Staal just mishandled the puck near the Oilers blue-line, leading to a Carolina offside. Eric Staal - there's a name from the past. He had something like a 15-game point-scoring streak through Game 6 of the Easter final but pretty much hasn't been heard from since.

FIRST PERIOD, 6:20

No great scoring chances yet, but there's a good pace to this game. Whistles have been few and far between and both teams are moving the puck pretty well. Also, we've yet to see the first yellow card, er, penalty.

FIRST PERIOD, 3:52

I think I need to recalibrate my eyes after watching so many World Cup games over the last few days. These hockey players look so big and the rink so small.

MOMENTS TO GAME TIME

Jussi Markkanen gets an enormous cheer from the Edmonton crowd. Prediction: tonight we'll be hearing as many Boooooooos as Juuuuuuuuuuusis directed at the Oilers goalie.

3 MINUTES TO GAME TIME

The header says "3 minutes to game time" but that's anyone's guess. None of the Stanley Cup games have started anywhere near 8:00 ET, even though the NHL continues to bill 8:00 ET as game time. The new, fan-friendly NHL. Catch it!

5 MINUTES TO GAME TIME

Another reason to dislike Rod Brind'Amour (and I know you're looking for one): Rod the Bod didn't speak to the media after Carolina's Game 3 loss.

Carolina vs. Edmonton - Game 3, Stanley Cup Final

2006-06-10T23:12:31Z

Oilers, down 2-0, glad to be back home

]]> By Jesse Campigotto

After a disastrous start to the Stanley Cup final in Carolina, the Edmonton Oilers are surely thinking there's no place like home.

Tonight everyone's favourite Sherwood-wielding Dorothys return to the friendly (and extremely noisy) confines of Edmonton's Rexall place for Game 3 against the Hurricanes. Home ice advantage, though, is about all the Oilers have going for them tonight after dropping Games 1 and 2 in Carolina and losing star goalie Dwayne Roloson for the rest of the series to a knee injury.

Perhaps the boisterous Edmontonians who have been packing the Oilers' home rink throughout the playoffs can inspire replacement starter Jussi Markkanen and the rest of the team to a win that would put Edmonton right back in the series.

But if I see Chris Pronger wearing a pair of red skates and clicking his heels together, I'm outta here.

GAME OVER

Thanks for joining us tonight. We'll be back with more live commentary for Game 4 on Monday night. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm off to swing from some hydro lines.

GAME OVER

A great moment near the end of the game: with the Edmonton crowd on its feet and cheering madly in the final seconds, the fans still took the time to boo loudly whenever Weight touched the puck. Don't think I've ever seen/heard that before. Those Oilers fans are relentless. Also, Markkanen was named the first star. Not sure I agree, because he didn't win the game for Edmonton. But he didn't lose it either, and I guess that's good enough at this point.

THIRD PERIOD, 20:00

Final score: Edmonton 2, Carolina 1. With an extra attacker on for the Hurricanes, the Oilers hold the fort in their defensive zone for the win. They're still down 2-1, but the Oilers are alive in the series.

THIRD PERIOD, 17:50

A note on the last goal: the Oiler who threw the puck on net for Smyth was Ales Hemsky.

THIRD PERIOD, 17:45

Edmonton 2, Carolina 1. Count it.

THIRD PERIOD, 17:45

Edmonton 2, Carolina 1. Or maybe not. Edmonton appears to get the go-ahead goal as an Oiler throws a puck on net and Ryan Smyth, who is charging hard to the net, has the puck bounce off the shaft of his stick and somehow trickle past Ward. The play is under review.

THIRD PERIOD, 12:57

The action has calmed down considerably. I think I smell the pungent aroma of overtime.

THIRD PERIOD, 9:09

Carolina 1, Edmonton 1. Surprisingly, it's the Hurricanes who score. Jason Smith blocks a shot with his face and the puck goes right to Rod Brind'Amour, who buries it.

THIRD PERIOD, 8:02

A lengthy stretch without a whistle ends with an Oilers 3 on 1, but Ward makes a good stop. The Oilers are really pressing. A goal feels inevitable.

THIRD PERIOD, 1:10

I'm not sure how, but Markkanen keeps getting the job done. He just stopped a pinball of a point shot, then sprawled to cover the rebound. Still, Markkanen seems awkward. As much as he's making good saves, pucks are finding their way to him.

SECOND INTERMISSION

A replay of the disallowed goal shows McGeough was in surprisingly good position to make the call. A camera was positioned right behind him in the corner and it clearly showed the puck was loose when McGeough blew the whistle. Not sure how he missed it, then.

SECOND PERIOD, 20:00

After a pretty entertaining period, the Oilers again head to the dressing room with a 1-0 lead. Edmonton fans can't feel safe, though. Can Jussi Markkanen really produce a shutout? Methinks the Oilers need another goal.

SECOND PERIOD, 18:47

The Oilers nearly go up two when Ethan Moreau digs the puck out from under Ward and puts it in the net. But referee Mick McGeough had blown the whistle because he thought Ward had covered the puck. An overhead replay, though, shows the puck was uncovered between the pads of the outstretched Ward. Oh, Mr. McGeough - you've done it again.

SECOND PERIOD, 15:58

After some great end-to-end action, this dawned on me: has anyone ever seen Oilers forward Sergei Samsonov and Sabres forward Maxim Afinogenov in the same room? Because I think they might be the same guy. The way each guy dazzles you and looks absurdly dangerous every time he touch the puck yet always ends up producing nothing is eerily similar. Something is up.

SECOND PERIOD, 11:40

Markkanen covers the puck to halt a goal-mouth scramble, much to the crowd's delight. They're not booing you, Jussi. They're saying, "Juuuuuuuuuuuuuuus."

SECOND PERIOD, 11:10

The building erupts as Mark Messier, who is in attendance, is shown on the video screen. I still say Messier should be required to wear a blue Winwell/Cooper helmet at all times. He just doesn't look right without it.

SECOND PERIOD, 6:04

Shawn Horcoff was just called for the old "Playing With a Broken Stick" penalty. Actually, he didn't even know his stick was broken and tried to stickhandle the puck with his chopped-off blade for a second before realizing what happened. Just going out on a limb here, but I'll bet Don Cherry blames this on those newfangled composite sticks.

SECOND PERIOD, 5:56

Markkanen's teammates are making the game much easier for him than they did in Game 2. Carolina just registered its first shot of the period and seventh overall.

SECOND PERIOD, 1:23

Markkanen might have picked up a little too much confidence. He just came out of his net to play a puck (one of his own defencemen could have easily handled it) and promplty gave it away to a Carolina player at the point, who fired it on net and almost got a tip-in. Baby steps, Jussi.

FIRST PERIOD, 20:00

The Oilers kill off a penalty just before the period expires and take a 1-0 lead into the dressing room. Edmonton also outshot Carolina 9-6. The Oilers look like a new team. Maybe there's something to that home-ice advantage thing.

FIRST PERIOD, 15:36

Edmonton just squandered a 5 on 3 advantage, taking some of the wind out of the crowd's collective sail. At least Markkanen is looking sharp, though. He made a series of good saves on the aforementioned Hurricanes power play.

FIRST PERIOD, 12:23

Oilers fans may seem like a jovial bunch, but they sure hold a grudge. Ex-Oiler Doug Weight is being booed lustily ever time he touches the puck. The booing was particularly entertaining a the just-expired Hurricanes power play, where Weight got several touches in rapid succession.

FIRST PERIOD, 9:11

The Oilers seem to have bounced back from the Game 2 disaster. They're forechecking effectively and, unlike in the last game, appear to be a genuine threat to score at any time.

FIRST PERIOD, 5:35

And Markkanen really, really needed this: Justin Williams comes in on a breakaway and fires overtop the net. It didn't look like Markkanen got a piece of it, but that could have been disastrous if he'd allowed that goal so early in the game.

FIRST PERIOD, 2:31

Edmonton 1, Carolina 0. Shawn Horcoff tips a Jaroslav Spacek point shot through the legs of Carolina goalie Cam Ward. Not that this is groundbreaking analysis, but the Oilers really, really needed that.

MOMENTS TO GAME TIME

I like Paul Larieau, but at his point he's openly stealing money. The Oilers' anthem singer tonight stuck with his (admittedly pretty cool) gimmick of starting off the Canadian anthem before letting the crowd take over, proving once again that patriotism and laziness are not mutually exclusive.

MOMENTS TO GAME TIME

An interesting pre-game note from Scott Oake: the Oilers have replaced defenceman Marc-Andre Bergeron with Dick Tarnstrom. Now why'd they do that? All Bergeron did in the first two games was knock Edmonton's star goalie out of the playoffs in Game 1 and have the eventual game-winner go off his skate in Game 2.

MOMENTS TO GAME TIME

Another strange pre-game intro from the Oilers. It started with some slow R&B tune, then broke into the inevitable Black Eyed Peas song. This time it was the one where they rip off, err, sample that song from Pulp Fiction. At this point the Oilers are milking the Black Eyed Peas more than the Black Eyed Peas are milking the Black Eyed Peas.

5 MINUTES TO GAME TIME

It should be interesting tonight to see how the boisterous Edmonton crowd treats Markkanen, who was booed during the regular season. Oilers fans have been pretty sunny throughout the playoffs, often chanting "Ro-li! Ro-li!" to support Dwayne Roloson after he allowed a goal. I'm sure they'll be behind Markkanen at the outset, but if things go bad it might be a difference story.

Edmonton vs. Carolina - Game 2, Stanley Cup Final

2006-06-07T23:18:18Z

Reeling Oilers look to bounce back

]]> By Jesse Campigotto

Hard to imagine what else could have went wrong for the Oilers.

In Game 1 of the Stanley Cup final Monday, Edmonton blew a 3-0 lead, lost stellar goalie Dwayne Roloson for the rest of the series with a knee injury, then lost the game 5-4 after backup Ty Conklin misplayed the puck behind his net, handing Rod Brind'Amour an easy game-winning goal.

But, to borrow (and slightly modify) a famous line from a film about women's professional baseball, there's no crying in hockey. So the Oilers will try to pick up the pieces tonight with either Conklin or equally undistinguished No. 3 netminder Jussi Markkanen. If they can't, they'll be heading back to Edmonton down 2-0 in the series.

The good news for the Oilers is that, when everything is going wrong, even the smallest of improvements can make it seem like things are starting to go right.

GAME OVER

Thanks for joining us tonight. We'll be back with more live commentary for Game 3 Saturday at 8:00 p.m. EDT. Try to get some sleep, Oilers fans.

GAME OVER

It doesn't look good for the Oilers as they head back to Edmonton for Game 3. But as a wise man once told me, never count out a team when they haven't yet played a home game. Then again, as another wise man once told me, never wager on a team that has to choose between Jussi Markkanen and Ty Conklin in net.

THIRD PERIOD, 20:00

Final score: Carolina 5, Edmonton 0. Ward makes 25 saves for the shutout, while Markkanen allows five goals on 26 shots. That's a .808 save percentage for Markkanen. Ouch.

THIRD PERIOD, 16:44

Seldom-used Oilers tough guy Georges Laracque just took his second penalty of the third period, picking up a five-minute major for hitting Ladd from behind. The hit wasn't any more serious than most of the hits from behind we've seen in the playoffs (many of which weren't even called), but the referee probably just wants to get Laracque into the dressing room, where he can't cause any trouble in the final seconds of a blowout.

THIRD PERIOD, 11:14

Oilers coach Craig MacTavish said prior to today's game that whomever he selected to start in place of Roloson would remain the starter for a while. Not a bad thing to say, if only for the purpose of giving the replacement (which turned out to be Markkanen) confidence by sparing him the worry of the quick hook. But I'm wondering if MacTavish is rethinking the wisdom of that strategy. Heck, I'm wondering if Markkanen is rethinking the wisdom of that strategy.

THIRD PERIOD, 10:06

Wow, this game really escalated in a hurry. The Oilers are still digging, but they look to be in disarray. Hard to blame them. Perhaps they can at least "set the tone" for Game 3 with some strong play in the last half of the third. Breaking Ward's shutout would at least provide a small victory.

THIRD PERIOD, 4:12

Carlina 5, Edmonton 0. And the Hurricanes make Moreau pay. On the power play, Mark Recchi tips a Kaberle point shot past Markkanen.

THIRD PERIOD, 2:47

Frustration is getting the best of the Oilers. Or at least Ethan Moreau. The Edmonton grinder punches Glen Wesley in the head to draw a roughing penalty. Good idea considering the 'Canes have already scored two power-play goals.

THIRD PERIOD, 2:21

Carolina 4, Edmonto 0. And it counts. Carolina's second power-play goal of the game.

THIRD PERIOD, 2:21

It looks like the Hurricanes have gone up 4-0. I say "looks like" because the goal was waved off. But they're checking it on replay, and replays have already shown us Doug Weight kicked the puck off his stick and in. It didn't go in directly off his skate.

THIRD PERIOD, 1:10

Kelly Hrudey made a good point during intermission: Ward gives up a lot of rebounds. It's true - he's been doing it all playoffs. And getting away with it all playoffs.

SECOND PERIOD, 20:00

It's going to be tough for the Oilers to overcome a three-goal deficit, but don't count them out just yet. Ward has looked sharp but he's also been fortunate on a few shots. Still, that goal with 2.4 seconds left hurts.

SECOND PERIOD, 19:57

Carolina 3, Edmonton 0. What a backbreaker for the Oilers. Cory Stillman is stopped by Markkanen but circles the net, picks the puck back up and whacks it into an open net just before the period expires.

SECOND PERIOD, 17:32

Of course, you've got to be a bit lucky to be good (and vice-versa). Ward looked to be on the verge of having his shutout broken as he was on his rear end and forced inside his net with a crowd in front. Shawn Horcoff had a great chance to flip the puck past the helpless goalie but put it overtop the net.

SECOND PERIOD, 14:25

Cam Ward continues to play well. He just made a good save on Sergei Samsonov, who was barrelling hard to the net, then stopped another Oiler from point-blank range by laying down his paddle.

SECOND PERIOD, 11:50

About my dislike for Brind'Amour: there's no real explanation for it, other than I'm a Sabres fan and he contributed significantly to knocking them out of the playoffs. But there's just something about him. He's too intense for his own good. He seems dark and/or disturbed roughly 94% of the time.

SECOND PERIOD, 10:28

Carolina 2, Edmonton 0. With Carolina still on the power play, Frantisek Kablere picks up for Brind'Amour, putting the 'Canes up by two.

SECOND PERIOD, 10:04

With Carolina on a power play, Rod Brind'Amour gets a glorious chance. Markkanen stops a point shot, it pops up in the air and, with the goalie unawares of the puck's whereabouts, Brind'Amour finds himself with an open net. He hits the post, though. Good. I don't know why, but I do not care for Mr. Rod Brind'Amour.

SECOND PERIOD, 8:02

Some nice work by the Oilers to kill off a 5 on 3, then what was left of a 5 on 4. Edmonton's Matt Greene even generated a pretty good chance coming out of the penalty box, but a Carolina defenceman forced him to shoot from the hash marks and Ward stopped it.

SECOND PERIOD, 2:46

If the start of this period is any indication, the Oilers have modified their strategy. With the puck in their end, all five Oilers skaters were protecting the net, almost like the "four-man box" formation that teams use when killing penalties. Except Edmonton had five men. And they weren't shorthanded. It worked, though. The Hurricanes worked the puck arond the outside but never got a really good chance.

FIRST INTERMISSION

Not a bad start for Markkanen, who couldn't have been blamed for being rusty. The one goal he allowed was the result of a sharp deflection off the skate of a sprawling defenceman. I like what the rest of the Oilers are doing, too. Sure, they were outshot, but they generated some good scoring chances and they seem to realize they might have to score a lot of goals tonight to help out their goalie.

FIRST PERIOD, 20:00

Carolina takes a 1-0 lead to the dressing room. The 'Canes put eight shots on Markkanen in the first while allowing six on Cam Ward.

FIRST PERIOD, 18:46

The Oilers might be playing a little too finely tonight. Fernando Pisani just had a good chance but seemed to think he didn't have a good enough shot and ended up holding on to the puck and going behind the net and out of scoring position.

FIRST PERIOD, 15:47

Crazy action so far. What a contrast to Game 1, which started off quite sluggishly as the Oilers took a 3-0 lead and promised to get more sluggish if Edmonton sat on its advantage. Of course, we all know how that ended up. Here's hoping the pace of tonight's first period carries over into the second and third.

FIRST PERIOD, 11:13

The Oilers defenceman off which Andrew Ladd's goal deflected was Marc-Andre Bergeron. Yes, the same Marc-Andre Bergeron who checked the same Andrew Ladd into Dwayne Roloson in the third period of Game 1, knocking Roloson out of the series. Neither of these things is really Bergeron's fault, of course, but the guy is in the midst of an awful string of bad luck. At this point the Oilers could probably replace Bergeron in the lineup with a black cat and it wouldn't make any difference.

FIRST PERIOD, 6:21

Carolina 1, Edmonton 0. Or not. The Oilers botch an odd-man rush and the Hurricanes flip it into a 2 on 1. Andrew Ladd's shot hits a sprawling Edmonton defenceman and beats Markkanen high.

FIRST PERIOD, 5:02

I'm sure some Oilers fans are already trying to work out how to contact me in order to start an avalanche of hate mail condemning me for even suggesting the Roloson injury could possibly be good in any reasonable way. Guys, just think: if the Oil goes on to win the series using a a more offence-heavy style.... I mean, what a story!

FIRST PERIOD, 3:26

After some frantic end-to-end action, we just got our first whistle of the game, for a Hurricanes penalty. Hey, if Roloson's absence means more exciting hockey, maybe some good will come out of it.

MOMENTS TO GAME TIME

Carolina's anthem singer (easy on the eyes, tough on the ears) just had her mic cut out for a second in the middle of the Canadian anthem. At first I thought she was trying to copy the Edmonton singer by letting the crowd sing (which she might want to consider in the future), then I thought maybe someone had "accidently" cut out her mic, like what happened to the San Francisco Giants play-by-play guy when Barry Bonds hit his 715th home run. But the mic was quickly restored, quashing my half-baked conspiracy theories before they could become fully baked.

MOMENTS TO GAME TIME

It's no longer a rumour. Markkanen is officially the man for tonight. He'll be making his first start since Mar. 1, when he allowed three goals on 10 shots against St. Louis and was pulled after two periods.

5 MINUTES TO GAME TIME

Rumour has it that Jussi Markkanen will get the start in net for Edmonton. Markkanen has appeared in one playoff game in his career, coming on in relief of the Oilers' Tommy "For President of Belarus" Salo in 2003 against Dallas. By the way, Markkanen's 2005-06 regular-season save percentage was .880. Dwayne Roloson's save percentage in the 2006 playoffs was .927.

Edmonton vs. Carolina - Game 1, Stanley Cup Final

2006-06-05T23:33:08Z

Oilers, Hurricanes open Stanley Cup final

]]> By Jesse Campigotto

It's the first game of the first Stanley Cup final of the first season after the first work stoppage to wipe out an entire season of a major professional sports league. Still, it feels like old times.

Last time there was a Stanley Cup final, in 2004, Game 1 was held in the southern U.S. hockey hotbed of Tampa-St. Petersburg, Florida. This year's Game 1 goes in Raleigh, N.C. - a delightful town, we're sure, but one better known for tobacco production and moonshine consumption than for being the home of the former Hartford Whalers.

In 2004 the vistors in Game 1 were a plucky bunch of overachievers from Alberta - the Calgary Flames. This year it's the Edmonton Oilers - a team that, before the playoffs began, was considered about as likely to reach the Cup final as Ralph Klein would be to vote NDP.

They say a change is as good as a rest, but when it comes to the NHL championship series, it seems a rest wasn't good for much change.

GAME OVER

Thanks for joining us tonight. We'll catch our breath and be back with more live commentary for Game 2 Wednesday night at 8:00.

GAME OVER

Final score: Carolina 5, Edmonton 4. Wow, what a third period: Five goals (four by Carolina), some fantastic goaltending by Ward and a stunning injury to Roloson. The game started off slowly, but there was no shortage of action in the final frame. Here's hoping Roloson is ready for Game 2 and that we see more great hockey like we saw in the third period tonight.

THIRD PERIOD, 20:00

From the bad and ugly of goaltending to the good. Great, actually. The Oilers get a flurry of shots in the final seconds before the puck squirts to the side of the net to Horcoff, who has a lot of net to shoot at. But Ward slides over in the nick of time and makes a spectacular glove save to preserve the Carolina win.

THIRD PERIOD, 19:29

Carolina 5, Edmonton 4. Oh noooooooo. What a way to go down. Conklin takes the puck behind the net and tries to shovel it to Jason Smith, but it goes off Smith's stick and right out front to Brind'Amour, who buries it into the open net.

THIRD PERIOD, 17:25

Conklin is tested for the first time and makes a nice pad save on a slap shot from the wing. Methinks he'll soon be tested more than that.

THIRD PERIOD, 16:00

Could Carolina be any luckier? Against Buffalo in the confernce final, the Hurricanes were helped by injuries that knocked out four of the Sabres' best defencemen and one of their top scorers. Now they don't have to face the hottest goalie in the playoffs for at least the rest of this game.

THIRD PERIOD, 14:06

This is not good if you're an Oilers fan. Roloson leaves the game after Andrew Ladd crashes hard into him. It appears to be a right leg injury. Edmonton's fortunes now rest with Ty Conklin. Ouch.

THIRD PERIOD, 13:31

Edmonton 4, Carolina 4. It's officially a shootout. Ales Hemsky cuts hard to the net and makes a quick move with his stick to slip the puck past Ward.

THIRD PERIOD, 11:45

Ward makes an unbelievable save. Smyth sets up Horcoff for a wide-open net, but Ward lunges across the crease and stops it with his glove. Everything is going Carolina's way right now.

THIRD PERIOD, 10:02

Carolina 4, Edmonton 3. Things have gone sour in a hurry for the Oilers. Staios can't keep the puck in the Hurricanes zone, giving Justin Williams a breakaway on which he bests Roloson with a wrist shot.

THIRD PERIOD, 6:57

Whitney nearly gets the hat trick when he blasts a shot from close range, but Roloson stops him. Down at the other end seconds later, Ward stop Radek Dvorak (he still plays for the Oilers? Could have fooled me the way he's been playing) from in close. After a sluggish first two periods, we're seeing some great action right now.

THIRD PERIOD, 5:09

Carolina 3, Edmonton 3. Whitney scores his second straight and the 'Canes score their third straight as the little guy converts a rebound. What a turn of events.

THIRD PERIOD, 4:28

Rough night for Wesley. He's drilled with a cross check from behind by Ethan Moreau, who is called for a penalty.

THIRD PERIOD, 1:40

Edmonton 3, Carolina 2. We've got a hockey game. Off a 3 on 2, Ray Whitney wires a slap shot from the wing that beats Roloson on the short (blocker) side.

SECOND PERIOD, 20:00

A wild flurry of action ends the second period. By the way, Pronger's penalty shot attempt was the first since Pavel Bure's in 1994. It's also a, uh, little known fact that Pronger's was the first successful penalty shot in Stanley Cup final history.

SECOND PERIOD, 19:50

On a power play, Carolina has a great chance to get another goal but Roloson foils a streaking Staal with a nifty poke check. That came second after Smyth fired wide on a breakaway.

SECOND PERIOD, 17:17

Edmonton 3, Carolina 1. Alone in front, Brind'Amour, despite his lack of unkempt facial hair, taps in a rebound to get one back for the 'Canes.

SECOND PERIOD, 16:23

Edmonton 3, Carolina 0. Ethan Moreau floats a wrist shot from the top of the circle that hits Carolina defenceman Aaron Ward and deflects past Cam Ward. Hurricanes coach Peter Laviolette has a quick hook, so let the Martin Gerber watch begin.

SECOND PERIOD, 12:10

Scott Oake makes a good point: for the penalty shot, Mac T was required to select one of the players on the ice at the time of the call. Since Edmonton's fourth line was out, Pronger was probably the best scoring option.

SECOND PERIOD, 10:36

Edmonton 2, Carolina 0. A surprise move by Mac T, who tabs Chris Pronger to take the penalty shot. With hockey pundits everywhere gleefully anticipating the opportunities for second-guessing, Pronger calmly beats Ward with a low wrist shot.

SECOND PERIOD, 10:36

Referee Mick McGeough just called a penalty shot after the 'Canes Nik Wallin put his glove on a puck in the crease. In typical Mr. Magoo fashion, he gestures wildly when making the call. Mick, we like you, but no one is here to watch you.

SECOND PERIOD, 7:39

Why doesn't Rod Brind'Amour have a playoff beard/goatee? He's not even trying to grow one of those wispy Grade 8 'staches like the Sabres' Daniel Briere had going. Has anyone looked into this? Someone should get Elliotte Friedman on the case.

SECOND PERIOD, 3:34

CBC just showed us some footage of Eric Staal and his younger brothers, who are all well-regarded prospects, as kids on their backyard rink in Thunder Bay. They're like the new Sutter brothers. I wonder if the Staals will also grow up to be hard-ass coach-slash-GMs.

FIRST PERIOD, 20:00

The Oilers head to the dressing room with a 1-0 lead. They looked pretty sharp in the first period. Perhaps the pundits will finally put the "are the Oilers going to be rusty?" talk to rest.

FIRST PERIOD, 19:00

A smart move by Oilers coach Craig MacTavish - after Carolina takes another penalty, Mac T calls a timeout to rest his best power play guys. Hey, why save the timeout for late in the game, when you might not need it? Game-winning goals can be scored in the first period, too. MacTavish is one of the few NHL coaches who knows how to use the timeout. Alas, Edmonton can't score with the power play.

FIRST PERIOD, 15:35

With the Oilers on a 4 on 3, the Hurricanes Glen Wesley blocks two shots with his legs, then heads to the dressing room in considerable pain. This is Wesley's fourth Stanley Cup final and he's still looking for his first ring.

FIRST PERIOD, 13:28

With the Hurricanes on a power play thanks to a dubious tripping call on Steve Staios, Oilers goalie Dwayne Roloson is up to his old tricks. After covering the puck for a whistle, "Roli" immediately begins complaining to a referee about something. Good to see the long layoff hasn't mellowed him.

FIRST PERIOD, 8:18

Edmonton 1, Carolina 0. Fernando Pisani scoops up a rebound, shuffles around Carolina goalie Cam Ward and fires the puck into an open net to open the scoring. Ward was way out of his net to cut down the angle on the initial shot. That's something to watch for. Ward came out really far on a lot of shots in the Buffalo series, but the Sabres weren't able to exploit him by moving the puck side to side. Maybe the Oilers can.

FIRST PERIOD, 6:47

Remember where you heard it: after this series is over, a woman in Edmonton will give birth to a boy whom she will name "Horcoff." If you know this hypothetical woman, you might want to start talking her out of it.

FIRST PERIOD, 4:16

Edmonton gets the first power play of the game but Carolina kills it off without much trouble. Special teams will be key in this series. The Oilers sport the best penalty-killing unit in the playoffs, while the Hurricanes have the top power play.

MOMENTS TO GAME TIME

The Carolina crowd is really riled up tonight. There hasn't been this much excitement in Raleigh since they introduced 2 for 1 night at the Piggly Wiggly.

MOMENTS TO GAME TIME

Speaking of fine music, the Hurricanes take the ice to the Scorpions' immortal rock classic "Rock You Like a Hurricane."

5 MINUTES TO GAME TIME

After all those years of a weak Canadian dollar and even weaker Canadian NHL clubs, it's nice to have a team from north of the 49th in the Cup final for the second straight season with the Oilers following the Flames. As I type this, we're "treated" to a montage of highlights set to music from Nickelback - another of Alberta's fine cultural exports.

Buffalo vs. Carolina - Game 5, Eastern Conference Final

2006-05-28T23:59:48Z

Sabres limp into Carolina

]]> By Jesse Campigotto

Oh, the slings and arrows of the Stanley Cup playoffs.

As recently as four days ago, the Buffalo Sabres appeared to be Cup final material. Now, after a series of catastrophic injuries to key defencemen, they have the look of a team just trying to survive.

On Wednesday the Sabres beat the Carolina Hurricanes 4-3 at home to take a 2-1series lead. But it was a costly victory, as linchpin blue-liner Henrik Tallinder broke his left arm and was lost for the playoffs.

The injury may have been the proverbial straw that broke the camel's back, as the Sabres were already missing steady defencemen Teppo Numminen and Dmitri Kalinin. Indeed, Buffalo was promptly bludgeoned 4-0 by the Hurricanes in Game 4.

Tonight the Sabres limp into Carolina looking like a team down in the series rather than one tied 2-2. Good news for Buffalo though - Numminen expects to be back in the lineup.

Perhaps the healing has begun for the Sabres. If not, there could soon be a lot of broken hearts in Buffalo.

GAME OVER

Thanks for joining us tonight. We'll be back with more live commentary when the Stanley Cup final gets underway. If the Hurricanes wrap up the series Tuesday, Game 1 of the final goes Saturday. If they don't, the final starts Monday. Here's hoping for Edmonton and Buffalo on Monday. But that's just me.

GAME OVER

A huge win by the Hurricanes to go up 3-2 in the series. And with the Sabres continuing to battle injury woes, Carolina is firmly in the proverbial driver's seat. Meanwhile, what a heartbreaker for the Sabres. More than one pundit had them written off after Game 4, but they competed gamely tonight and could have won it. Still, it looks like they're running out of gas and they now face a literal must-win at home Tuesday.

OVERTIME, 8:46

Final score: Carolina 4, Buffalo 3 (OT). I think I just threw up in my mouth. With Carolina still on the power play, Cory Stillman collects a carom off the boards and beats Miller.

OVERTIME, 7:12

Afinogenov just botched a 2 on 1 chance with an inexplicable move in which it looked like he couldn't decide whether to pass or shoot and ended up deking himself out and falling down. The guy is maddening. And the Sabres just got called for a penalty. I feel ill.

OVERTIME, 4:50

The Sabres are dominating so far in overtime. Daniel Briere just had a good chance with a clear shot from the slot but shot it right at Ward's breadbaskset.

OVERTIME, 3:00

Ward robs Jochen Hecht, who was alone in front for a tap-in chance, with his right pad. Terrific save.

OVERTIME, 1:28

Carolina kills off the rest of its penalty. The Sabres at least got their power play set up this time.

THIRD INTERMISSION

This is an exciting moment for me - it's the first time I've done a game blog that went into overtime. That means I get to make the traditional overtime winner picks. So, I'll go with... Eric Staal for the Hurricanes (Way to go out on a limb, they say). And for the Sabres... Maxim Afinogenov. Just kidding. J.P. Dumont.

THIRD PERIOD, 20:00

The Sabres can't immediately capitalize on the penalty but they'll start overtime with a power play.

THIRD PERIOD, 19:20

But here's what Afinogenov can do: he picks up the puck in the Carolina zone and skates hard to the net, drawing a hooking penalty.

THIRD PERIOD, 15:55

Max Afinogenov gets a breakaway for Buffalo. Sounds dangerous, because he's one of the most dazzling players in the league. But here's a secret: Afinogenov looks like a goal-scorer, skates like a goal scorer, but brother, he ain't a goal-scorer. He's got one of the worst sets of hands in the league. By the way, Afinogenov made a weak "move" on Cole and fired the puck right at his right pad.

THIRD PERIOD, 14:40

Just flirting, though. Buffalo kills off the penalty. Ray Whitney had a couple of good

THIRD PERIOD, 12:40

Buffalo is called for another penalty, its seventh of the game to Carolina's four. The Sabres are flirting with disaster.

THIRD PERIOD, 7:40

With a delayed penalty being called, Campbell drills Staal just as the whistle sounds, sparking a melee. Nothing will spark a melee faster than drilling the other team's star player. The Hurricanes aren't called for anything, so they go on a power play.

THIRD PERIOD, 6:09

The period is flying by, thanks to a lengthy stretch without a whistle. Some good chances at both ends, too, but both goalies look sharp.

THIRD PERIOD, 3:30

Janik gets caught on an ill-advised pinch but shows some good speed to catch up and break up a brewing 2 on 1. Still, I've never seen a pinch like that. I'm still trying to figure out what he was up to.

SECOND PERIOD, 20:00

The second period ends, and not a moment too soon for Buffalo, which blew a two-goal lead in the period and was lucky to get out with the score tied 3-3.

SECOND PERIOD, 17:26

The Sabres power play looks terrible tonight. Buffalo has barely been able to set up, if at all. By the way, this is a team that had the third-best power-play percentage in the league this season.

SECOND PERIOD, 11:10

Say what you will about the in-game music at the various arenas throughout the playoffs (which has been somewhere between laughable and atrocious) but at least no one ever played 'Who let the dogs out?' Until now.

SECOND PERIOD, 10:04

Carolina 3, Buffalo 3. Hard to blame Miller on this one. With the 'Canes on a power play, Eric Staal makes a cross-ice pass to Brind'Amour, who drills a one-timer that hits the far-side post and goes in.

SECOND PERIOD, 9:20

Miller has made several excellent saves over the last few minutes. Buffalo will need him to keep it up to have a chance.

SECOND PERIOD, 8:24

Colour man Greg Millen informs us the Hurricanes are down to four defencemen as a some blue-liners have gone to the dressing room. Ah, sweet justice. Sweet, sweet, sweet, sweet justice.

SECOND PERIOD, 5:21

Buffalo 3, Carolina 2. Mark Recchi converts a nice pass from Doug Weight for a tap-in goal.

SECOND PERIOD, 4:38

You gotta love Laviolette. Starting Gerber in Game 4 was, at best, a questionable move that "paid off" because of the Sabres' utter lack of effort. Now Laviolette is making up for that knee-jerk mistake with another knee-jerk move. Don't bother counting the ballots. Give this man the Coach of the Year award now.

SECOND PERIOD, 1:55

You know, the knee-jerk coaching of the Hurricanes' Peter Laviolette may save the Sabres yet. Laviolette ends the "sensational" run of Gerber almost as quickly as he started it, pulling him after the Lydman goal and reinstalling Cam Ward.

SECOND PERIOD, 1:55

Buffalo 3, Carolina 1. Toni Lydman (?!?!) gets a breakway and makes like a 50-goal sniper, deking Gerber out with a terrific move.

SECOND PERIOD, 1:20

The Hurricanes get a 3 on 1 and Miller makes a good save on a hard Brind'Amour slapper.

FIRST PERIOD, 20:00

Forward Jason Pominville makes a nice play to thwart a chance by Williams, but Miller is called for tripping on the play and Carolina will start the second period with a power play.

FIRST PERIOD, 17:20

Buffalo 2, Carolina 1. Derek Roy beats Martin "Vezina" Gerber with a wrist shot. It was a bullet, but Gerber could have had it. I'm feeling very smug right now.

FIRST PERIOD, 13:13

After a furious start, the action has cooled a bit. Play-by-play man Jim Hughson gives us this bit of info: the Hurricanes have played the same lineup since Game 2 of the first round. They are to be envied.

FIRST PERIOD, 8:45

Sabres defenceman Jay McKee heads to the dressing room. It looks to be just an equipment problem, but Buffalo fans don't need to be seeing any of their defenceman going to the room. Between this and the kielbasa sandwich he's probably consuming, the average Sabres fan isn't far from a massive heart attack.

FIRST PERIOD, 7:25

Carolina 1, Buffalo 1. So much for morale. Justin Williams beats Ryan Miller with a softie.

FIRST PERIOD, 7:08

Buffalo 1, Carolina 0. After Sabres forward Mike Grier makes a great play to break up a Carolina 2 on 1, Taylor Pyatt springs Chris Drury for a breakaway and blasts a slap shot past Gerber. For morale purposes alone, this is huge for the Sabres.

FIRST PERIOD, 5:18

More blood for the 'Canes to smell: Numminen isn't in the Sabres lineup. That means we'll probably be seeing plenty of the immortal duo of Doug Janik and Jeff Jillson on defence.

FIRST PERIOD, 2:30

The Hurricanes smell blood. They're attacking the Sabres' zone without mercy.

MOMENTS TO GAME TIME

One reason to like the Hurricanes: their anthem singer is a knockout. It doesn't seem fair - she looks like that and she's still a better singer than Paul Larieau. Some gals have it all.

MOMENTS TO GAME TIME

Let's get this out of the way: the Hurricanes did not win Game 4 *because* of Martin Gerber. Did he play well? Yes. Did he frustrate the emotionally fragile Sabres with some good saves early in the game? Yes. But he made only 22 saves. It's not like he stole the game. It was easy to say Gerber was the story of Game 4 because of his surprise return to the starting job. Easy, but not correct. The banged-up Sabres played horribly in Game 4 and were shut out, while the Hurricanes scored four goals. Gerber played a role, but he wasn't "the reason" the 'Canes won.

5 MINUTES TO GAME TIME

Time for my standard disclaimer: I'm a Sabres fan. Like most Sabres fans right now, I have visions of Buffalo's gut-wrenching defeats of the past dancing through my head. Yeah, there's Brett Hull's "no goal" in 1999, but the four Super Bowl losses by the Bills are wrapped up in there too. As a longtime Buffalo fan, the "here we go again" syndrome has been bred into me. It's no way to live, but it's too late for me now. Young Buffalo fans - save yourselves. Get out while you can.

Anaheim vs. Edmonton - Game 5, Western Conference Final

2006-05-28T00:02:43Z

The Oilers look to rebound and finish off the Ducks in SoCal

]]> By Chris Iorfida

Was it a minor blip on the radar, or did the last four periods signal an irreversible change in the series?

Anaheim has scored nine goals in that time, almost coming all the way back in Game 3, and winning Game 4.

By all accounts, the Oilers are over the flu and the Ducks are glad, as they're sick of hearing about it.

2003 Conn Smythe winner Jean-Sebastien Giguere was back in net for the Ducks on Thursday, but let's face it - when you outshoot your opponent 25-3 in the first, you could put Sebastian Cabot in net and probably still win.

More telling was the fact the young guns that shone against the Avs finally made an impact against Edmonton.

The Oilers would love for the likes of Stoll, Horcoff and Torres to bounce back offensively.

GAME OVER

Edmonton 2, Anaheim 1.

The Edmonton Oilers are in the Stanley Cup for the first time since 1990! The Oilers win three games on the road to take the series. Anaheim has nothing to be ashamed of, but their inability to hit the net and convert on their PP killed them this series. It really could have been 3-2 Anaheim at this point in the series.

Please join us for our next blog Sunday at 7:30 p.m. EDT when Carolina-Buffalo battle in Game 5 as the Oilers await.

THIRD PERIOD, 18:29

Ouch! For 18 seconds Anaheim will have 6 on 3 after one of those dang puck over the glass penalties.

THIRD PERIOD, 17:08

Oilers took a too many men penalty and Giguere is on the bench. Exciting, folks!

THIRD PERIOD, 16:00

Edmonton is holding on, just like the first two games in Orange County.

THIRD PERIOD, 14:00

OK, the Anaheim music isn't that much better. Do I smell another 3-1 final? By the way, baby Jolie is named Shiloh Nouvel. Whatever.

THIRD PERIOD, 10:35

The Oilers are playing with fire, giving the Ducks these chances on the PP.

THIRD PERIOD, 3:00

Both teams have failed on the PP so far in the period. No one seems to want to stake their claim!

SECOND INTERMISSION

The Ducks have 20 minutes to prevent their season from ending. They'll have the bulk of a PP with Pronger in the box to start the third.

SECOND PERIOD, 18:51

The Oilers blow a chance to really but their foot down. They are now 0-for-4 on the PP.

SECOND PERIOD, 16:30

Giguere makes a critical save on Horcoff to keep it a one-goal game.

Man, Roloson is cagey. Mere minutes after complaining to Rob Schick, the Ducks are cited for a goalie interference call.

SECOND PERIOD, 12:45

Edmonton survives a penalty, which includes a vintage Niedermayer rush. That guy's skates don't seem to touch the ice.

SECOND PERIOD, 8:31

Edmonton 2, Anaheim 1.

There's a guy overdue for a goal - Raffi Torres. He comes off the sickbed with a beautiful re-direct of Bergeron

What did I tell ya about Anaheim and that first period?

SECOND PERIOD, 3:42

Anaheim 1, Edmonton 1.

There's a guy overdue for a goal - Ethan Moreau. Edmonton comes out with jump this period. There's no reason they shouldn't be peppering Giguere, who really hasn't looked better than average.

SECOND PERIOD, 1:45

I have to say, Anaheim has the edge when it comes to between-whistle music. Jimmy Eat World, not my favourites but at least it's from this century. Rexall seems to have Cliche-Ridden Sports Dance Music Traxx from the 90's in heavy rotation, as well as that godawful Opus thing from 20+ years ago.

FIRST INTERMISSION

Interesting period. The Ducks could look back at this one with regret if Edmonton comes back. They held a 14-8 shots edge and missed the net a few times and had four PPs - one of which will carry over 10 seconds. Edmonton a bit lucky not to be down by more.

FIRST PERIOD, 18:42

Oilers fail to score on a PP - a late goal there would have been a bit of a dagger considering how the Ducks have controlled the play this period.

FIRST PERIOD, 13:42

Oilers with their best chance yet, Torres denied by Giguere; one of the few saves he's had to make. Much of this period has resembled Game 4' first period, with fewer shots.

FIRST PERIOD, 7:30

Anaheim 1, Edmonton 0.

Anaheim is now 3-for-30 on the PP as they capitalize with Spacek in the box. Beauchemin scores from the point past a screened Roloson at 7:30 - last game Penner opened the scoring for the Ducks at 7:28. Anaheim is 6-0 in the playoffs when scoring first.

FIRST PERIOD, 6:05

It looked like DiPenta was going to carry the net with him up ice.

FIRST PERIOD, 2:35

The game is underway and Anaheim already has a power-play opportunity. As well, I have been notified that Angelina Jolie has given birth in Africa. To a baby, I presume.

Anaheim vs. Edmonton - Game 4, Western Conference Final

2006-05-25T23:12:02Z

Oilers go for first Cup final berth since 1990

]]> By Jesse Campigotto

Sixteen years later and things are looking rather familiar in Edmonton. It's springtime and the Oilers are one win away from the Stanley Cup final, thanks in part to the contributions of Craig MacTavish and Kevin Lowe.

Okay, so MacTavish and Lowe have evolved from, respectively, a hard-nosed forward and steady defenceman to the Oilers' head coach and GM. And the ice is devoid of Messiers and Kurris, and even Klimas. And the team standing in the Oilers' way isn't the venerable Chicago Blackhawks but the Anaheim Mighty Ducks, who call to mind a derivative Emilio Estevez vehicle.

Still, all is right in Edmonton as the upstart Oilers march toward their first Stanley Cup final berth since 1990. All they need is a home win over the Ducks tonight in Game 4 of the Western Conference final.

Forgive us, then, if we feel like we're in the middle of a Golden Age in Oil Country.

GAME OVER

Thanks for joining us tonight. We'll continue to follow this series with more live commentary, so check back in Saturday night at 9:00 p.m. EDT.

THIRD PERIOD, 20:00
Final score: Anaheim 6, Edmonton 3. So we're headed for a fifth game, which will go Saturday night in Anaheim.

THIRD PERIOD, 18:50
Anaheim 6, Edmonton 3. And that'll do it. Lupul scores an empty-netter.

THIRD PERIOD, 17:49
Hard to believe after the craziness of the second period, but Anaheim is playing a sound defensive third.

THIRD PERIOD, 13:40
The Ducks kill off a 5 on 3 and almost salt the game away when Scott Niedermayer emerges from the box, picks up the puck at his own blue-line and flys in for a breakaway, but he shoots the puck right at Roloson's chest. A great display of skating, though. Niedermayer could be the league's fastest player.

THIRD PERIOD, 11:34
If you're reading this, and you're pundit, consider this: Anaheim currently has a 41-20 advantage in shots on goal.

THIRD PERIOD, 8:50
Giguere makes his best save of the night, sliding over to stop a Dvorak one-timer with his right pad. Giguere has played reasonably well tonight, which will only encourage pundits to proclaim (if the Ducks win) that Giguere was "the reason the Ducks won" because he "knows how to win" and "inspired his teammates" with his "veteran leadership."

THIRD PERIOD, 6:21
In contrast to the second period, the third has been pretty tame. A little more craziness would probably benefit Edmonton, which has the unenviable task of trying to crack the Anaheim trap.

THIRD PERIOD, 3:54
Roloson smothers a long point shot and immediately starts complaining to Devorski about something. Roloson must lead the league in "most times delaying a face-off by arguing with a ref." The guy is making Dominik Hasek look stoic right now.

SECOND PERIOD, 20:00
Now maybe we can catch our breath. The second period featured five goals, nine penalties and a whole lot of action. Here's hoping the third is just as wild. Or, dare I say, wilder.

SECOND PERIOD, 18:22
Anaheim 5, Edmonton 3. Right off a face-off, Joffrey Lupul roofs a wrist shot over Roloson. The abruptness of the goal takes the air out of the crowd.

SECOND PERIOD, 16:10
The Oilers kill off the Staios penalty and a Smyth penalty to boot. That could turn out to be big. An Anaheim power-play goal would have killed the Oilers' considerable momentum.

SECOND PERIOD, 13:26
With the Oilers really buzzing and looking like they'll surely tie the game, Steve Staios kills the momentum by shooting the puck over the glass to earn a delay of game penalty.

SECOND PERIOD, 12:41
In contrast to the first period, Giguere is now the one facing the shooting gallery. The Oilers are playing their best hockey of the game right now.

SECOND PERIOD, 10:57
For the second straight game, we've got a barnburner on our hands. The Edmonton crowd, smelling blood, is once again in a frenzy.

SECOND PERIOD, 10:01
Anaheim 4, Edmonton 3. As Bob Cole aptly puts it, "Oh, baby!" Georges Laracque is left alone in front and bangs in a rebound.

SECOND PERIOD, 7:46
Anaheim 4, Edmonton 2. Shawn Horcoff takes a point shot and Ryan Smyth deflects it neatly past Giguere.

SECOND PERIOD, 5:42
Anaheim 4, Edmonton 1. A goal by Ruslan Salei restores Anaheim's three-goal edge. By the way, tonight's refs are Paul Devorkski and Dan O'Halloran.

SECOND PERIOD, 4:50
Dwayne Roloson is a fine goaltender, but no netminder in the league divers and argues for penalties more than he does. For some reason, tonight's referees don't know this. Seconds after Roloson complains about being chopped after the whistle, he takes a dive on a little bump from a Ducks forward and the refs call a penalty.

SECOND PERIOD, 3:30
Anaheim 3, Edmonton 1. Marc-Andre Bergeron takes advantage of an Oillers 4 on 3 power play, blasting a one-timer past Giguere.

SECOND PERIOD, 3:20
The penalty-fest continues. Four have been called already in the period.

SECOND PERIOD, 2:01
Two straight penalties by the Ducks negate their 5 on 3 and give Edmonton a truncated 5 on 3.

FIRST PERIOD, 20:00
Wow. There are bad periods, there are awful periods, and then there's this: the Oilers were outshot 25-3 in the first 20 minutes.

FIRST PERIOD, 19:18
Anaheim 3, Edmonton 0. A Ducks 5 on 3 turns into a 6 on 3 with the referee's arm up for a delayed penalty. Ryan Getzlaf converts a one-timer to cap a nice passing play.

FIRST PERIOD, 18:02
The Oilers take a too-many-men penalty, which is odd considering it seems like it's the Ducks who have six skaters on the ice. Shots on goal are 21-3.

FIRST PERIOD, 15:11
Anaheim 2, Edmonton 0. Penner must have received some tips from Coach Gordon. He walks out from the corner, stickhandles past a sprawling Pronger and fires a shot between the legs of Roloson for his second goal of the period.

FIRST PERIOD, 14:00
Some Edmonton fans are wearing hats on top of which are plastic ducks covered in a black substance meant to resemble oil. Clever. Kind of morbid, but clever.

FIRST PERIOD, 12:55
A correction on the Penner goal: it went off the skate of an Edmonton defender.

FIRST PERIOD, 11:31
The Oilers kill off a 5 on 3 Ducks power play thanks to some great saves by Roloson. Shots on goal are 12-1 for Anaheim.

FIRST PERIOD, 7:28
Anaheim 1, Edmonton 0. Dustin Penner gets an unassisted goal when he bangs the puck past a sprawling Roloson.

FIRST PERIOD, 7:02
Speaking of Giguere, the new restrictions on the size of goalie equipment seem to have had a significant effect on his comically large equipment. Its gone from egregiously oversized to noticeably oversized.

FIRST PERIOD, 6:37
The Oilers get their first shot on goal, a high wrist shot by Jarrett Stoll. Giguere fumbles it but pounces on the puck before anyone can get the rebound.

FIRST PERIOD, 2:35
Dwayne Roloson is forced to make his first of what will surely be many big saves when he stops Samuel Pahlsson from point-blank range.

MOMENTS TO GAME TIME
Seasoned showman that he is, Larieau again lets the crowd take over the singing of the anthem.

MOMENTS TO GAME TIME
Larieau comes out to a massive ovation from the crowd, thanks to his inspired move of allowing the crowd to sing the Canadian anthem before Game 3.

MOMENTS TO GAME TIME
For some reason, the Oilers take the ice to that Black Eyed Peas song that rips off, er, samples that tune from Pulp Fiction. I never thought I'd be glad to see Paul Larieau.

5 MINUTES TO GAME TIME
Ducks coach Randy Carlyle has elected to go with J.S. Giguere in net tonight. Giguere replaces Ilya Bryzgalov, who had a good start to the playoffs but hasn't looked good throughout this series and especially in Game 3, when he allowed five goals. Still, Giguere hasn't played since Game 5 of the first round. Let the second-guessing begin.

Buffalo vs. Carolina - Game 3, Eastern Conference Final

2006-05-24T23:17:25Z

The Sabres and Hurricanes battle for the upper hand as HNIC heads to Western New York
]]> By Chris Iorfida

Heads Carolina, Tails Buffalo.

Handicapping playoff series this year has been folly, but most felt the Hurricanes-Sabres series was pick-em, and two games in we're split. It could be a long, exciting series.

In contrast to the first two games, where one team felt they played lacklustre, perhaps we'll have both at peak form in Game 3 as the series shuffles off to Buffalo.

Eric Staal leads all NHL players with 17 points and has a point in 12 consecutive games. The playoff record is 18 straight games. Who do you think it is? I'll tell you the answer when Staal gets a point or the end of the game, whichever comes first.

Word is that Sabres coach Lindy Ruff will reuinite the Chris Drury/Mike Grier/Derek Roy trio, which was very effective at the end of the Philly and beginning of Ottawa series.

Teppo is a no-go for the Sabres.

So crack open a Genny Beer and enjoy the game!

Game Over
Buffalo 4, Carolina 3.
Furious pressure by the Hurricanes but Staal misses the net and Whitney is stopped by Miller. The Sabres are two games away from the franchise's third appearance in the Stanley Cup final.
Please join us for our next blog Thursday at 8 p.m. EDT as the Edmonton Oilers look to do what many believed unthinkable at the beginning of the playoffs - make the Stanley Cup final for the first time in 16 years.

3rd period, 18:17
Gerber figures to leave the net soon for the last gasp for Carolina.

3rd period, 15:52
Buffalo 4, Carolina 3.
Staal picks up a loose puck on the PP and wires it into the net - surprised it didn't break the netting. He now has points in 13 consecutive games. The record is 18, held by Bryan Trottier when he was with the Islanders.

3rd period, 14:17
Carolina will get a late PP opportunity. In other news, I know who won American Idol and I'm not telling for you tapers and PVR people.

3rd period, 12:35
Weight gets hit in the puck for the second time tonight. It would be pretty interesting if Weight and Pronger, long-time spring suffererers in St. Louis, met in the final in their first year in new environs.

3rd period, 9:00
For a team facing the prospect of trailing 2-1 with the next game in Buffalo, the 'Canes aren't generating much.

3rd period, 5:05
Gerber should get some Rolaids relief man consideration. He stops Afinogenov on a mini-break to keep his team in it.

3rd period, 2:15
Hurricanes would no doubt love to get an early goal to put the heat on.

2nd Intermission
Miller with a great blocker save on Doug Weight in the final seconds. Should be an interesting final period.

2nd period, 18:18
Buffalo 4, Carolina 2.
Carolina kills off a penalty and gets a rush, which ends with Stillman putting in a rebound for his second of the game.

2nd period, 13:30
Gerber gets a great welcome - a short-handed breakaway. He stops Grier. Did someone from HSBC spike Carolina's water in their dressing room or send in toxic fumes through the vents? What exactly happened to the Hurricanes in the 15 mins between the end of the 1st and beginning of the 2nd? Did they get caught up in American Idol?

2nd period, 12:48
Buffalo 4, Carolina 1.
An utter disaster for the Hurricanes. Implosion. They kill yet another penalty, are about to take yet another when Lydman's hit on Commodore sets up a goal by Kotalik. Laviolette puts Gerber in to prevent the kid from getting killed out there - shots are 15-1 Buffalo this period.

2nd period, 8:28
Buffalo 3, Carolina 1.
Briere had a poor game by his standards last time out and is making up for it big time tonight. McKee wins a battle in the neutral zone, feeds Briere who takes off and picks the top right corner over Ward's glove.

2nd period, 7:05
Another Sabres PP and Cam Ward comes up big, making a nic e pad save on Roy. Hurricanes kill it off, but have to stop taking penalties.

2nd period, 2:50
After a first game with no power-play goals (though there was a SHG), 7 of the last 10 goals have come with the man advantage.

2nd period, 1:02
Buffalo 2, Carolina 1.
Buffalo starts the period on a PP and makes good. Great puck possession and the world's youngest looking 28-year-old, Daniel Briere, scores the go-ahead goal.

1st period, 19:30
Carolina 1, Buffalo 1.
Huge goal for the Sabres on the power play just before the buzzer. Drury with a beautiful re-direct of a Kotalik shot. Cam Ward had no chance.

1st period, 14:07
Carolina 1, Buffalo 0.
Cory Stillman is trying to make it two Stanley Cup finals in the last two seasons. The former Lightning player throws it out front from the boards and it goes off McKee and through Miller's wickets (and at 6'2", 165, they are wickets).

1st period, 11:45
Briere clangs a rebound off the bar. Each team has taken seven shots thus far.

1st period, 9:03
Somewhere an apoplectic Jerry Sullivan of the Buffalo News is bangin' away at the keyboard. After a non-call when Mike Grier goes down, Roy gets sent to the box again, this time for a cross-check. Carolina up by 2 men. Scratch that. The Canes have already been called for one of their own in the time it took me to write this.

1st period, 6:20
And we're off! Not quite Edmonton-Anaheim last night but tempers getting heated at HSBC. Staal and Roy exchaning hostilities - perhaps simmering from Peterborough Petes vs. Kitchener Rangers days. Roy gets dinged for diving. His reputation precedes him.

1st period, 0:16
Two shots already by Buffalo. It looks like Sabre fans have been told to wear white. The Hurricanes are wearing white. The Sabres are wearing black. Confused? Yeah, me too.

Anaheim vs. Edmonton - Game 3, Western Conference Final

2006-05-23T23:33:16Z

Flu-bitten Oilers two wins away from Cup final
]]> By Jesse Campigotto

While much of the city of Edmonton is gripped by Oilers fever, the team finds itself in the throes of a considerably less exhilarating illness: influenza

With the Oilers two wins away from reaching their first Stanley Cup final since 1990, several players are battling the flu. Marc-Andre Bergeron and Raffi Torres missed Edmonton's 3-1 win Sunday in Anaheim that gave the Oilers a 2-0 series lead, while Jason Smith and Shawn Horcoff played through the bug.

With the status of all four players uncertain for tonight's Game 3, Anaheim will need to take advantage of the Oilers' reeling roster to get back in the series. If they don't, the Ducks could be the ones feeling queasy.

GAME OVER
Thanks for joining us tonight. Check back tomorrow at 7:30 p.m. EDT for live commentary on Game 3 of the Carolina-Buffalo series.

GAME OVER
The Oilers are one win away from the Cup final. Who woulda figured? They'll go for the sweep Thursday in Edmonton.

GAME OVER
The Ducks had a great chance to tie it in the final seconds as Dustin Penner had a wide-open net on a rebound but couldn't get his stick on a backhand attempt. A wild finish to a wild third period that saw eight goals. That's the same number of goals that were scored in the first two games combined.

THIRD PERIOD, 20:00
Final score: Edmonton 5, Anaheim 4. The Oilers survive a late flurry by the Ducks to win it.

THIRD PERIOD, 18:15
Edmonton 5, Anaheim 4. The action is capped by another goal. A shot tipped by Todd Marchant beats Roloson high and is initially waved off by the referee, but a replay shows the puck hit the back-inside crossbar.

THIRD PERIOD, 18:10
Both teams are buzzing for goals. This is, by far, the most entertaining hockey we've seen in this series.

THIRD PERIOD, 14:14
Edmonton 5, Anaheim 3. Fernando Pisani restores the Oilers' two-goal lead with a nice deke on Bryzgalov. Don't worry, I'm not making any proclamations on the outcome of the game this time.

THIRD PERIOD, 14:03
I don't mean to keep trying to cover my arse (okay, actually, that's exactly what I'm up to) but this would be one of the most improbable comebacks ever. Factoring in how much time was left in the game after the Oilers went up 4-0, and the fact that Edmonton still had a 5 on 3, and the fact that the Ducks seemed dead because the Oilers looked like they'd be going up 3-0 in the series, and that fact that Roloson looked unbeatable, and the fact that the crowd was going bonkers.... Talk about the deck being stacked against Anaheim.

THIRD PERIOD, 12:45
Yeah, about what I said a few minutes ago - about the game being over.... well, it isn't. As inconceivable as it seemed only minutes ago, the Ducks are right back in this thing.

THIRD PERIOD, 11:15
Edmonton 4, Anahiem 3. Seconds after the official no-goal call, Chris Kunitz scores to put Anaheim within one.

THIRD PERIOD, 11:05
The Ducks nearly get within one as the puck hits Moreau's skate in front of the Oilers net and trickles toward the goal. But Roloson reaches back with his glove and makes a terrific play to keep it out. They're reviewing the play but none of the replays we've seen show the puck definitely going over the goal line, so the no-goal call will stand.

THIRD PERIOD, 9:13
Edmonton 4, Anaheim 2. Hold on a sec - the Ducks, who minutes ago seemed ready to pack it in for a summer of golf in the O.C., have cut the deficit to two on a Selanne goal.

THIRD PERIOD, 7:15
Edmonton 4, Anaheim 1. Roloson's shutout streak ends when he lets in a point shot by Sean O'Donnell. The Edmonton fans immediately salute Roloson with a "Rol-lie! Rol-lie!" chant.

THIRD PERIOD, 6:00
The joyous Edmonton fans start the always-enjoyable "We want the Cup! We want the Cup!" chant.

THIRD PERIOD, 4:40
Edmonton 4, Anaheim 0. This game is over, and I'm getting a feeling this series is over. With the referee's arm up to call yet another penalty on the Ducks, Pronger blasts in a point shot. And the Oilers still have a 5 on 3.

THIRD PERIOD, 4:25
The Ducks are really unravelling. After Fedoruk gets dropped in a fight with Laracque, Anaheim takes two straight penalties, giving Edmonton a 5 on 3.

THIRD PERIOD, 3:35
Edmonton 3, Anaheim 0. Wow! After Peca nearly scores another on a 2 on 1, Steve Staios converts a nifty drop pass from Sergei Samsonov to give Edmonton a three-goal lead. The crowd is in an absolute frenzy.

THIRD PERIOD, 2:19
Edmonton 2, Anaheim 0. Mike Peca blocks a shot, goes in on a breakaway and roofs it over Bryzgalov. That's Peca's third breakaway goal in the last four games. Talk about stepping up your game in the playoffs.

THIRD PERIOD, 1:34
From the DId-You-Know file: Roloson hasn't allowed a goal in his last six periods at home.

SECOND PERIOD, 20:00
No goals in the second period, so the Oilers will continue to nurse their 1-0 lead in the second period.

SECOND PERIOD, 18:04
Teemu is back! He just made a nice move to blow by Jaro Spacek (who isn't exactly Norris Trophy material, but still) and create a decent scoring chance. But Roloson made the save.

SECOND PERIOD, 15:44
Selanne is only figuratively absent from tonight's game, but Edmonton's Torres is actually out, with the flu. Forgot to mention that earlier, which is pretty bad condidering it was the whole focus of my introduction. Torres the only one of the flu-stricken Oilers who couldn't go tonight.

SECOND PERIOD, 13:56
After watching the hamfisted Ducks botch another rush, I'm wondering: where is Teemu Selanne tonight?

SECOND PERIOD, 10:44
After Roloson smothers a puck during a Ducks power play, Cole informs us that Roloson has stopped 103 of the last 105 shots he's seen. Indeed, the Anaheim players are starting to get that "what the heck do we have to do to beat this guy?" look on their faces.

SECOND PERIOD, 7:11
Just as an Anaheim power play begins, Scott Niedermayer hooks Horcoff to negate the man advantage. It seems like a pretty undisciplined move, but it came seconds after a CBC graphic showed us that the Ducks power play has a 6.7% success rate on the road in the playoffs. Maybe Niedermayer is undisciplined like a fox.

SECOND PERIOD, 5:20
The action has slowed down considerably in the second period. Since the Horcoff breakaway, there hasn't been any good scoring chances, big saves, fights or comments on George Laracque's underwear.

SECOND PERIOD, 0:20
Captain Oiler, Ryan Smyth, sends Horcoff in for a breakaway but Bryzgalov stop him. A lot of beer would have been spilled had the Oilers scored a goal that soon after the end of the intermission.

FIRST INTERMISSION
Despite all the penalites (most of which were for roughing) there were only four power plays in the first period- three for Anaheim and one for Edmonton.

FIRST PERIOD, 20:00
The Oilers take a 1-0 lead to the dressing room despite being outshot 14-6. The interminable first period featured 16 penalties by the two teams combined, including four fighting majors.

FIRST PERIOD, 16:43
Talk about getting contributions from everyone. Some quick research on Petersen reveals that, before tonight, the 27-year-old hadn't played an NHL game since the 2001-02 season, with Pittsburgh.

FIRST PERIOD, 13:47
Edmonton 1, Anaheim 0. Toby Petersen gives the Oilers the lead with his first goal as an Oiler. Luckily, the arena is still standing.

FIRST PERIOD, 10:35
Dwayne Roloson is again looking very sharp. With the Oilers shorthanded moments ago, he made a nice save on a point shot, then stopped Joffrey Lupul on the rebound with a nice pad save, sending the delirious Edmonton crowd into chants of "Rol-lie! Rol-lie!" If Oilers score soon, the building is going to come down.

FIRST PERIOD, 8:44
Bob Cole informs us that the players are raving about how much better the ice is in Edmonton than in Anaheim. You mean they don't have top-flight icemakers in Orange County, California?

FIRST PERIOD, 5:26
Wow, another fight. Well, if you can call it that. Ethan Moreau and Joe DiPenta circle each other for what seems like forever, before falling to the ice about two seconds after they finally tangle. Talk about a lot of preamble for nothing. Even those Tyson fights from the 80s where he would knock out some guy with a hairy back about 15 seconds into the bout lived up to the build-up more than what we just saw.

FIRST PERIOD, 3:40
Thanks to the melee, I didn't get a chance to properly recover from the aforementioned Harry Neale comment on Laracque's physique. Frankly, I don't see what I could add. Some comments are just so transcendent that they needn't be touched.

FIRST PERIOD, 3:10
Not to sound like Rodney Dangerfield, but we've tuned into a fight only to see a hockey game break out. A massive scuffle follows the Pronger-Fedoruk fight, with Chris Pronger getting right in the middle of things to defend goalie Dwayne Roloson, who was jawing with a Ducks player. When the dust settles, there are four Ducks and three Oilers in the box.

FIRST PERIOD, 2:51
Fight! Anaheim's Todd Fedoruk tangles with Edmonton's Georges Laracque, who throws some haymakers but can't connect before the two wrestle to the gound. Commenting on Laracque's strength, Harry Neale tells us, "when you look at Laracque in his underwear in the dressing room before a game, he looks like an Edmonton Eskimos player."

MOMENTS TO GAME TIME
Say what you will about Lorieau, but this was a veteran move: halfway through the Canadian anthem, he lets the crowd take over.

MOMENTS TO GAME TIME
The incomparable Paul Lorieau sings the national anthems, as he done throughout the playoffs in Edmonton. I say incomparable because perhaps no singer in the league combines his stunning lack of both singing ability and physical appeal. I mean, that cheerleader in Carolina who does the anthems can't sing either, but at least she's bringing something to the table.

4 MINUTES TO GAME TIME
No, I don't have a girlfriend. Why do you ask?

5 MINUTES TO GAME TIME
Like any good maple syrup-consuming, social democracy-loving Canadian, the only network I ever watch is the CBC. But if I had been watching TSN's pre-game coverage tonight, I would have seen footage of the Oilers emerging from their dressing room.
This always amuses me because the Oilers get to the ice by walking through a giant set of silver doors adorned by an Oilers logo, which slide open almost magically when the first player in line approaches them.
My question: are these doors opened by some sort of motion-sensing device? Or do a couple of stage hands stand behind the doors, out of site of the cameras, and open the doors when they see the players approaching, so as to give the impression of 'magical' doors? The latter is how they did it on the Star Trek set.

Edmonton vs. Anaheim - Game 2, Western Conference Final

2006-05-22T00:41:56Z

The Oilers look to have the Ducks struggling to stay afloat early in their series
]]> By Chris Iorfida

Well, let's just say that first game didn't kick off the NHL semifinals in a blaze of glory. Bad ice and a mausoleum-like atmosphere in Anaheim - about as far from Rexall Place as you can get it. Game 1 saw Edmonton keep on chooglin' over a Ducks squad that was perhaps a little too well-rested.

Anaheim's Francois Beauchemin once again helped change a game again with his physical play. This time, though, it was the other team. Ales Hemsky took Beauchemin's medicine and recuperated quickly to give the Ducks a lethal dose.

We've heard how Edmonton has won the last 12 games at Rexall between the clubs, so Anaheim figures to be a lot less SoCal-like tonight. Expect the power playoffs of at least one of the teams, if not both, to be much better tonight.

Corey Perry may be back in the lineup for the Ducks after hurting his knee earlier in the playoffs.

GAME OVER
With a holiday tomorrow they'll be out late on Whyte Avenue tonite and with good reason. The Oilers are heading home up 2.
At the risk of being a killjoy, despite the Ducks' record at Rexall in recent times, this isn't necessarily over. These have been razor-thin games with Edmonton holding on for dear life in the third and Anaheim not looking like the club of the previous two rounds. And remember Oiler fans, you were down two last series. And Carolina came back after losing the first two at home. Stay focused and don't get too cocky.
Please join us for our next blog when the Oilers return to raucous Rexall and try and put a Nugent-style stranglehold on the series.

3rd PERIOD, 19:42
Edmonton 3, Anaheim 1.
Talk about a carbon copy game. 3-1 result sealed by an empty-netter. Another Peca goal assisted by Roloson (and Pisani this time).

3rd period, 18:30
An amazing save on a 2-on-1 by a dormant Bryz to give his chance to win.

3rd period, 16:30
I know they're winning and I know they're on the road but the Oilers will be fortunate to go up two game after posting third-period shot totals like these (four in Friday's game, only two so far tonite).

3rd period, 15:35
When Roloson isn't stopping them, the Oilers are doing their shot-blocking act. Staios just took one for the team.

3rd period, 12:40
It's all Roloson here. Ducks have a 9-1 shot advantage in the third.

3rd period, 10:21
Anaheim said they wanted to get traffic in front of Roloson this game. The last sequence could best be described as a pile-up with bodies flailing but the puck staying out.

3rd period, 10:00
With Smyth in the box, Roloson makes a great glove save on Beauchemin's blast from the point.

3rd period, 8:00
Shots are 27-21 Anaheim for you shotophiles out there.

3rd period, 4:12
Roloson now has 14 PM in the playoffs. That, along with the cagey things he does to buy time (mask shake, anyone) and he's the closest in a while to a Hextall or Smith in this era of milder goaltenders.

3rd period, 2:00
Young Kunitz denied again by Roloson, who makes a left pad save on a breakway, a rare breakdown for the Oilers.

END OF 2nd PERIOD
Edmonton survives a late flurry. The Ducks must be shaking their heads. They controlled most of that period but it's still an Oiler lead. .

2nd PERIOD, 17:09
Edmonton 2, Anaheim 1.
Is Michael Peca a clutch player or what? He starts the play, Samsonov drops the puck back to Pisani, who fires his 8th off the post or crossbar (it made a ping sound, so that's my assumption) and past Bryz. Peca has a five-game point streak.

2nd period, 14:00
Lots of puck possession for Anaheim in Edmonton's zone both on the PP and full strength but no goal. Yet. Credit Pisani for a key intercept of a Niedermayer pass.

2nd period, 9:00
Craig MacTavish said after the last game the Oilers played maybe their best second period, which for some reason has given them trouble in the playoffs. Sure looks like they're back to the previous pattern here.

2nd period, 6:12
Edmonton 1, Anaheim 1.
Boy, did Anaheim need that. Friesen does some digging amidst legs out front and fires a backhander past Roli.

2nd period, 5:00
This period is zipping by already. Edmonton had another PP chance, but couldn't get their second.

END OF 1st PERIOD
Anaheim come out with brio but Roloson is in a groove. Where he was making the saves but looking a little shaky up until the first four games against SJ, he is now a very confident-looking goalie.

1st PERIOD, 13:08
Edmonton 1, Anaheim 0.
After Anaheim negates their own PP by interfering with Roloson, Pronger follow's a near-miss by Hemsky with a blast from the point that beats Bryzr (too tough to spell all the time) on the blocker side.

1st period, 9:45
Anaheim mostly taking the play, but Stoll gives Edmonton their best chance so far with a slapshot that Bryzgalov can't find right away.

1st period, 4:30
Roloson comes up huge with Kunitz all alone in front. There's a columnist in Edmonton who must feel pretty sheepish about nearly calling the trade a bust just five games into Roloson's tenure with the club.

1st period, 0:30
We are underway. There are signs of life in the stands at the Pond, as the fans must know if they don't help their team, there's a slight chance they won't see them again this year. MacTavish's fave, Marc Joannette, is one of the two refs tonite.

PRE-GAME
Perry is indeed in for Anaheim. There's a flu bug afflicting the Oilers - Marc-Andre Bergeron and Raffi Torres are out, Dick Tarnstrom and Toby Petersen in their spots.

Edmonton vs. Anaheim - Game 1, Western Conference Final

2006-05-20T00:30:20Z

Oilers, Ducks get started
]]> By Jesse Campigotto

It's time for Game 1 of an improbable Western Conference final that pits Anaheim (the West's no. 6 seed) against Edmonton (no. 8).

The Oilers come into the series red-hot, having won four straight games against the San Jose Sharks in the second round. That followed a stunning win over the Detroit Red Wings in Round 1.

The Ducks, meanwhile, could be cold after an eight-day layoff following their sweep of the Colorado Avalanche.

Both teams have turned up the heat defensively in the playoffs. The Ducks lead all playoff teams with a 1.82 goals-against average while the Oilers are third at 2.42.

And doesn't the thought of Edmonton potentially making its first trip to the Stanley Cup final since the Messier Era just give you a warm, fuzzy feeling?

GAME OVER
Thanks for joining us tonight. We'll be back with more live commentary when the Oilers and Ducks play Game 2 Sunday at 9 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. MT.

GAME OVER
It seems that, quite often, a team that is supposedly "tired" coming off a long series is able to take Game 1 before hitting the wall to some degree in the next game. Some early predictions for Game 2: the Oilers look more sluggish and the Ducks even the series.

THIRD PERIOD, 20:00
Final score: Edmonton 3, Anaheim 1. The Oilers draw first blood, halting a six-game winning streak by the Ducks. Looks like fatigue wasn't a factor tonight for Edmonton. I'm sure the word "rusty" will be thrown around quite a bit in Anaheim's post-game interviews. But remember, fellas, rust never sleeps.

THIRD PERIOD, 19:18
Edmonton 3, Anaheim 1. And that'll do it. Todd Harvey scores an empty-netter from the red-line to pretty much ice it for the Oilers. Craig MacT, are you watching? Put this man back on the top line! He's a sniper!

THIRD PERIOD, 18:45
The Ducks call a time-out, presumably to devise a strategy for penetrating Edmonton's fortress-like defence. Let's see if it works.

THIRD PERIOD, 16:30
So much for that. The Oilers easily kill off the Pronger penalty.

THIRD PERIOD, 14:02
Chris Pronger is called for a penalty. This could be Anaheim's last good chance to tie the game.

THIRD PERIOD, 12:44
Edmonton has moved into the "if we get in trouble in our own end, just dump it out and don't worry about icing" stage of the game. Careful guys, I'm not sure we can handle the excitement.

THIRD PERIOD, 10:50
The years haven't been especially kind to Ducks coach Randy Carlyle. I could have sworn I remember him playing not too long ago.

THIRD PERIOD, 9:47
The Oilers have really tightened up defensively, sending one forechecker in and keeping everyone else back to trap. Reminds me of the good old days before all that boring goal-scoring we saw this season.

THIRD PERIOD, 4:34
Roloson makes a save with his mask, which then falls off, prompting an immediate whistle. I'd suggest he tighten that thing up, but Roloson seems to know how to use that loose mask to his advantage, as he showed in Game 6 against the Sharks when he deliberately shook it off to halt a San Jose scoring chance.

THIRD PERIOD, 1:16
All three goals so far have come on special teams. Edmonton has one shorthanded and one power-play goal, while Anaheim has one power-play. The way these two teams check, I reckon we won't be seeing an abundance of even-strength goals in this series.

SECOND PERIOD, 20:00
Roloson makes a nice pad save on a point-blank shot by Teemu Selanne just before the horn sounds. The Oilers will take a one-goal lead into the third period.

SECOND PERIOD, 15:20
Ex-Oiler Todd Marchant is called for a penalty. Marchant is only playing for Anaheim because he was let go by Columbus this season after failing to living up to the ridiculous contract he signed after having a career year in his last season with the Oilers. Just a terrible signing by Blue Jackest GM Doug MacLean. When will teams learn - beware of the breakout contract-year performance.

SECOND PERIOD, 11:35
Edmonton 2, Anaheim 1. With the Oilers on a power play, Ryan Smyth fires a slap shot from the slot and Hemsky makes a nifty play to bat the rebound out of the air.

SECOND PERIOD, 10:19
The Oilers must lead the league in terrible playoff beards. With guys like Matt Greene and Jarrett Stoll, its not exactly a team of Grizzly Adamses. On the bright side, if Edmonton ever acquired Jarome Iginla, he'd have no trouble fitting in. Remember his (attempted) playoff beard last year? An unmitigated disaster. Word is, even Daniel Briere was appalled.

SECOND PERIOD, 8:41
These two teams sure block a lot of shots. The Ducks put 10 shots on goal in the first and the Oilers had nine, but that had to be half as many as they attempted. And when a shot does get through, each team has a very capable goalie to stop it. I sense a quadruple overtime game coming at some point.

SECOND PERIOD, 3:15
Francois Beauchemin just drilled Ales Hemsky with an open-ice body-check at the Oilers blue-line. What a turnaround it's been for Beauchemin. Hard to believe a guy who almost ate himself out of the league early in the season is today one of Anaheim's most important players.

FIRST PERIOD, 20:00
After a bit of a slow start, the first period ends with a flurry of activity, including two goals. The teams head to their dressing rooms tied 1-1.

FIRST PERIOD, 19:03
Edmonton 1, Anaheim 1. And the Ducks answer back in a hurry. Andy McDonald blasts a slap shot from the top of the circle and it hits the stick of Oilers defenceman Jason Smith and goes over Roloson's shoulder.

FIRST PERIOD, 18:35
Edmonton 1, Anaheim 0. The Oilers score the first goal of the series and it's a beauty. With Edmonton shorthanded, Roloson flips a high backhand pass over everyone to Mike Peca, who picks it up at the Ducks' blueline for a breakaway and dekes out Roloson.

FIRST PERIOD, 13:02
I'm trying to give the Ducks a chance. I really am. But when your music guy is playing Black Eyed Peas songs between whistles, I just can't get on your side. That is not hockey music. Would it kill him to put on a Stompin' Tom record? Okay, bad example.

FIRST PERIOD, 10:03
Roloson makes a good pad save after a Ducks flip-in takes a crazy bounce off the ice in front of the net. Just a hunch, but I'll bet Anaheim doesn't have the best ice in the league.

FIRST PERIOD, 8:10
The Ducks kill off the penalty, but now I'm wondering if Lupul is like one of those baseball players who hits a lot of home runs but strikes out a tonne and has a low on-base percentage. In other words, is Joffrey Lupul the Canadian hockey-playing version of Alfonso Soriano? If Lupul resists a move to left wing next seaosn, remember where you first heard this.

FIRST PERIOD, 5:05
The Ducks' Joffrey Lupul is called for penalty. Harry Neale informs us that Lupul leads the team in penalty minutes in the playoffs. He also had Anaheim's worst plus-minus rating in the regular season, despite scoring 28 goals, the third-most on the team. What a mysterious player.

FIRST PERIOD, 4:48
The Ducks are wearing their dark sweaters with the white string at the top. If your team didn't exist when sweaters had strings, you shouldn't have strings. Don't try to manufacture tradition.

MOMENTS TO GAME TIME
Elliotte Friedman informs us that Todd Harvey is again in the lineup for Edmonton, but has been demoted from the top line (on which he played in the final game against San Jose) in favour of George Laracque. I like Craig MacTavish, but who brings a guy out of the press box and directly onto the top line? Then again, Harvey played well in that game against the Sharks, which the Oilers won 6-3.

5 MINUTES TO GAME TIME
CBC cameras show us a large contingent of Oilers fans whooping it up outside the arena in Anaheim. Good to see Oiler Nation represented deep behind enemy lines. Of course, Anaheim isn't exactly Philadelphia. There's no risk of being pelted with three-volt batteries for cheering for the visiting team.

San Jose vs. Edmonton - Game 6, Western Conference semifinal

2006-05-17T23:49:26Z

The Oilers try to advance to the conference final for the first time since 1992.
]]> By Chris Iorfida

Rexall will be rockin' tonight as the team that fought tooth-and-nail just to qualify for the post-season has a chance to advance to the Western Conference final against Anaheim. Horcoff and Smyth came up huge last game.

San Jose coach Ron Wilson has made the safe choice, going with Vesa Toskala in net over Evgeni Nabokov, who hasn't played in four weeks. I'm not going to sit here and tell you Toskala was good in Game 5, but he didn't have much on four of the six goals - just looking at the final shots-to-saves stat can be a bit misleading. In any event, you have to figure one of them could be headed in the offseason to the likes of Tampa, Toronto, Ottawa, Detroit, etc etc.

GAME OVER
Edmonton is going to Disneyland!
Roloson makes 24 saves for his first career playoff shutout. The Sharks got outhungered the last four games. Joe Thornton now has eight goals in 46 career playoff games.
Want to hop on the Oiler bandwagon? There's plenty of time. Please join us for our next blog, Game 1 of the Western Conference final - Edmonton against Anaheim, Friday @ 9:00 p.m. EDT.

THIRD PERIOD, 17:36
Sharks have pulled Toskala on a late PP to get two men up.

THIRD PERIOD, 14:00
If Edmonton advances, here is my rant on the argument that the four teams left will be a disaster for the ratings, esp. in the US
First, I think the success should be measured in buzz, whether the games will be exciting that people start talking about them. Because the ratings aren't going to be great regardless.
Three of the four left play a consistently exciting brand of hockey (Anaheim are a bit more hit-and-miss in the excitement department).
Aside from maybe the Rangers or Toronto, who haven't been in the final in a while, how does it serve the "new NHL" to have one or two of the perennial "better" or "bigger market" teams (Det, Dallas, NJ, etc) in the finals again?
Hopefully hockey is moving towards an NFL-type scenario, where continued success is stil possible but a team can also win it all coming off a mediocre season. That can only help the game.

THIRD PERIOD, 14:00
Roloson turns aside Cheechoo. Roloson is maybe having his best game since Game 1 of the playoffs, when he kept the Oilers in against Detroit.

THIRD PERIOD, 13:10
Torres with an unnecessary penalty. This is San Jose's chance.

THIRD PERIOD, 11:27
Edmonton 2, San Jose 0.
Bedlam in Edmonton!
A familiar script the last four games: two Sharks are outworked behind the net, the puck in the slot to Horcoff, who throws it over Toskala, who went down a bit too early.

THIRD PERIOD, 10:00
Halfway through the final period. Can Edmonton hang on?

THIRD PERIOD, 7:45
Roloson is making the saves when called upon. And again, if SJ loses this one, it certainly wasn't because of Toskala.

THIRD PERIOD, 5:00
Another Edm PP chance. This game is a bit like the last one - lots of SJ man advantages in the first 40 minutes, the Oilers starting to get their own in the third.

THIRD PERIOD, 3:30
Both teams snakebit on the PP. That penalty by Scott Thornton was a really dumb one to take.

SECOND INTERMISSION
The Sharks are in the process of going 0-for-6 on the PP (there'll be six seconds carried over to the third). Matt Carle hits the post behind Roloson. Next goal, as you know, will be huge.

SECOND PERIOD, 14:00
Say what you want about Toskala, but he was stupendous in Game 3 and now has just stopped another SH breakaway (Horcoff) to keep his team in the game. The Sharks had hit the crossbar about a minute earlier.

SECOND PERIOD, 8:55
No goals, just a post. The Oilers look so good at home...4-1 so far in the playoffs. Hard to believe this was the team better on the road for much of the season.

SECOND PERIOD, 6:38
Smyth on a breakway and Toskala does the splits to keep it a one-goal game. The Oilers will get their second PP of the period already.

SECOND PERIOD, 5:42
Toskala does his bit on an Edm PP, doing a snow angel to cover the puck.

SECOND PERIOD, 2:10
San Jose with an early chance as Roloson is sprawled and out of the net.

FIRST INTERMISSION
The Sharks have to be shaking their heads about now. The Oilers were shorthanded four times - is that Marc Joannette out there tonite?

FIRST PERIOD, 17:51
Peca is a man possessed tonight. He crashes in on a SH breakaway and the puck nearly trickles through Toskala's legs. SJ can't have too much confidence so far with all the PP misses and Toskala still looking a bit shaky.

FIRST PERIOD, 14:40
The Oilers kill it off! Yeah, the Sharks had puck possession but they just don't seem to have the intensity you'd think for their predicament. Edm is in their heads a bit, it seems.

FIRST PERIOD, 13:08
Not quite sure I've ever seen that. Roloson intentionally gives his mask help in coming off after taking a shot to it with SJ applying heavy pressure.

FIRST PERIOD, 12:20
Edm will be down two men for 1:27. A key early moment in the game.

FIRST PERIOD, 8:21
Edmonton 1, San Jose 0.
The chants of "Vesa" begin as second time is a charm for Peca. He strips (interferes?) with Scott Hannan and skates in alone to roof it glove side. The Sharks' D, which are a fairly talented bunch, have really been exposed the last three-plus games.

FIRST PERIOD, 8:10
Great solo effort by Peca. His season was so-so, but right now, like with Darcy Regier, every one of Kevin Lowe's moves is looking good.

FIRST PERIOD, 5:30
Toskala passes an early test on a shot by Raffi Torres. The ability of Ryan Smyth and Rod Brind'amour to get in front of the goalie and cause havoc have been so key for their teams. Something that a few eliminated teams, such as Ottawa, need to take note of.

FIRST PERIOD, 2:30
It's tempting to compare the Oilers' run to Calgary in '04 given their proximity and the hard-working nature of each team. But Edmonton are getting goals and asking Roloson to make the key saves, not outright win games.

FIRST PERIOD, 0:01
We are underway. Yes, the Edmonton fans showed class cheering the U.S. anthem, but you just know more than a few were cheering to make a point and show up the SJ fans.