As the evening light fades over Edmonton tonight, there’s an electric buzz filling our streets that’s becoming wonderfully familiar. The Oilers are heading to the Western Conference Final for the second straight year, and I can feel the city practically vibrating with collective excitement.
Walking through downtown yesterday, I counted no fewer than seven people sporting freshly purchased Connor McDavid jerseys in just a fifteen-minute span. The playoff beards are getting longer, the rally cries louder, and yes, even my normally hockey-indifferent neighbor has an Oilers flag hanging from his balcony.
“This feels different than last year,” Dave Needham told me while serving up my morning coffee at his downtown café. “Last year was amazing, but there was this surprise element to it all. This year? There’s this quiet confidence around town. People expected this.”
The Oilers will face the Dallas Stars in a best-of-seven series beginning Thursday night in Texas. It’s a matchup bringing together two teams with dramatically different styles – our high-flying offensive juggernaut against the Stars’ more structured, defensive approach.
For those who might be new to hockey playoff drama (welcome aboard the bandwagon – we’re happy to have you!), the Western Conference Final represents the semifinal round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The winner advances to compete for Lord Stanley’s Cup against either the New York Rangers or Florida Panthers from the Eastern Conference.
Edmonton’s path here hasn’t been without its heart-stopping moments. After dispatching the Los Angeles Kings in five games, they found themselves in a nail-biting series with the Vancouver Canucks that went the distance.
“That Game 7 in Vancouver showed what this team is made of,” said longtime Oilers fan Samantha Lee, who I found shopping for playoff merchandise at Rogers Place. “Down 2-1 heading into the third period, on the road, in that atmosphere? And they responded with three unanswered goals. That’s championship DNA.”
The series against Dallas presents fascinating contrasts. The Stars finished second in the Western Conference during the regular season with 113 points, while Edmonton placed second in the Pacific Division with 104 points.
Dallas brings exceptional depth, particularly at the center position with players like Roope Hintz, Wyatt Johnston, and veteran Joe Pavelski. Their goaltender Jake Oettinger has been stellar throughout their playoff run.
But the Oilers counter with what might be the most dynamic offensive duo in hockey – Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. The pair has combined for an astounding 41 points through the first two rounds.
“It’s going to be a chess match,” explained former Oilers player and current radio analyst Rob Brown when I spoke with him yesterday. “Dallas wants to slow the game down, clog the neutral zone, and force Edmonton to work for every inch of ice. The Oilers want to play with pace and creativity. Whichever team can impose their style more consistently probably wins this series.”
What makes this moment especially poignant for our city is the journey we’ve taken to get here. Edmonton endured some painful rebuilding years and several playoff disappointments before breaking through to the conference final last season.
Walking through Ice District Plaza during Monday’s Game 7 viewing party, I was struck by the multi-generational nature of the crowd. Grandparents who witnessed the dynasty years of the 1980s stood alongside young children experiencing their first taste of deep playoff hockey.
“My dad brought me to games during the ’06 run when I was just eight,” said Tyler Johannson, now 26, who was watching Monday’s game with his own young son. “Being able to share this with my boy now – it’s what makes sports special, you know?”
The series also sets up potentially fascinating goaltending storylines. Stuart Skinner has faced significant scrutiny throughout these playoffs but delivered when it mattered most in Game 7. Meanwhile, veteran backup Calvin Pickard provided critical support when called upon against Vancouver.
Local businesses are certainly embracing the extended playoff run. Whyte Avenue pubs are advertising special viewing parties, bakeries are selling blue and orange treats, and several downtown office buildings have entire floors lit up to form the Oilers logo at night.
The first two games will be played in Dallas on Thursday and Saturday before the series shifts to Edmonton for Games 3 and 4 next Monday and Wednesday. If history is any indication, expect Rogers Place to reach deafening noise levels for those home games.
As our city prepares for another conference final appearance, there’s a sense that this team has unfinished business after falling to the eventual champion Vegas Golden Knights last spring.
“Last year taught us how special these moments are,” said Oilers forward Zach Hyman in his post-game comments after eliminating Vancouver. “We’re not taking anything for granted. This is a new opportunity against a great Dallas team.”
For now, Edmonton will collectively hold its breath, adjust its playoff viewing schedules, and perhaps invest in some stress-relief techniques as we embark on what promises to be another thrilling chapter in our city’s rich hockey history.
The journey continues Thursday night. And from what I’m sensing on our streets and in our coffee shops, this city couldn’t be more ready.
