The Edmonton Oilers can clean up and take care of some final business tonight – and then – it’s roll back the clock time.
We’re not colouring the Dallas Stars completely done in the Western Conference finale, but the way the competition is playing right now it’s difficult to envision anything like a return trip to the final for Florida and Edmonton.
The Oilers seem even more steely-eyed this time around in their hot knife cut through the Western set-up. Since dropping the first pair to the LA Kings in that opening round, Edmonton’s run the table to the tune of 11-2.
Impressive and dominating.
Meantime, the Eastern Conference for the Panthers has played out in similar fashion. Florida’s dominated.
Tampa Bay?
Out in five games.
Toronto?
The Leafs showed some bite but not when it counted the most and fell in seven . . . and that seventh game was far from tight.
And now Carolina?
Done like dinner in five quickies.
If the Oil and Cats do end up squaring off, it’s the best-case scenario for fans of the NHL.
Last year’s seven-gamer was a classic. To refresh – the Panthers roared out of the gate and took a 3-0 series lead. Edmonton though just refused to pack it in, taking the final to the full seven before losing, 2-1.
It was terrific drama.
The potential for a finale reunion underlines what the rest of the league doesn’t have but wishes it did. That would be an ability to rapidly morph into proper-playoff mode.
In translation that means finishing your checks, winning board battles, playing aggressive-but-smart hockey and getting the most out of your best players. It also means getting almost more than the most out of the non-stars; guys like Kasperi Kapanen and Connor Brown, and Eetu Luostarinen and Anton Lundell.
The stage is close to being set for a return battle.
Get it done, Edmonton.
THOUGHT, SEEN AND HEARD: Every fan base is guilty of this: your team (Toronto) gets eliminated in a lengthy, generally hard-fought series; the team that beat you (hi Florida) steamrolls through the next series (beats out Carolina in five games); your fans utter: “Man, we’d be through to the final if we’d got one more win and played that team (Carolina)!” . . . It’s a common thread through pro sports fandom . . . All-in-the-timing: Who leads the league in playoff goal scoring? Why that’s upcoming UFA Sam Bennett. Cha-ching . . . In his last three games between the pipes, Edmonton’s Stuart Skinner has surrendered a grand total of two goals . . . I thought Brad Marchand, at age 37, would be nice dressing for Florida’s salad. At times, he’s been the entire salad. This guy’s far from done . . . Jeff O’Neill had an excellent point about the Leafs and their fan and media base this week on TSN’s Overdrive. Basically, he said give it a week and change and watch the narrative change regarding Mitch Marner, John Tavares et all . . . Same old story? Minutes after another playoff disappointment, the watchers are calling for their heads. A week later – ‘well, maybe, possibly we should bring them back’ . . . Again, this is nothing new when dealing with fans from all regions, it’s just in Toronto, it gets hyper-attention . . . It will be intriguing to eyeball the Senators’ moves (if many) this off-season. The team is still far away from the Florida’s and Edmonton’s as far as championship-breed. We’re not breaking any glass here when the call for more offence is desperately needed . . . Not really getting the let’s-move-on-from-Artem-Zub chatter. He’s been Ottawa’s most dependable blueliner since checking in in 2020 . . . What’s remarkable about Zub is that through those exceedingly lean first few seasons here, he remained a plus-player every year . . . 2020 first-rounder Carter Yakemchuk (7th overall) saw his goals, points and PIMs numbers drop considerably this past season (his Calgary Hitmen were eliminated in Round 2 of the WHL playoffs). Yes, he played 10 less games but the stats tumble was larger than explainable . . . Yakemchuk turns 20 in September. Ottawa’s best positioning would be to slot him in AHL Belleville for at least one season, along the same lines as what the organization did with Tyler Kleven . . . The best playoff hockey – soaked with hate and sweat – is generally played in the opening round. The best hockey panel (on HNIC) was in that opening round as well . . . There are some irritating voices there and we’re not talking about Elliotte Friedman who brings more insight and perspective than the rest . . . I also don’t get this: Brendan Shanahan gets the heave-ho from MLSE after modest success during his tenure. Meantime, Mark Shapiro and Ross Atkins continue to steer the ship for the Blue Jays with absolutely zero success.
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