Get me off this crazy roller-coaster.
I had so much optimism at the start of the season, even when others didn’t. Alas, I’m going to have to watch the Oilers pack up and sit out of another playoff run.
And, I mean Edmonton Oilers, not Okotoks. Although I was just as sad to see our local boys get knocked out of the AJHL playoffs.
Oilers fans (I know there’s a few of us out here in the foothills) have had to get used to the rollercoaster.
I felt a twinge of relief on Friday night when the Oilers beat the Pacific Division leading Anaheim Ducks. It’s a small victory after a bad couple of weeks. Then, the New York Rangers came to Edmonton to win 5-0. It’s frustrating to watch a humiliating 8-1 defeat to Calgary one week, and a gritty performance against the Ducks another as new goalie Ben Scrivens netted a stellar performance facing 51 shots. This comes after a record 59 save performance against San Jose this year.
The team hasn’t had a good run of luck in the last few years. Sure they’ve got some holes to fill, but they’ve got lots of talent.
I’m no hockey analyst, so I’m not going to start comparing the Oilers’ goals against numbers to the defence’s performance. I’m just one of those fans who is patiently waiting for some glimmer of hope.
It’s been a painful eight years since the Edmonton Oilers’ Cinderella cup run in 2006. I’ve been ever faithful and I thought things were going to look up for the team this year. Yes, they still had a developing group of players and they needed a serious boost at defence, but look at the names on the front lines – Taylor Hall, Jordan Eberle, Ryan Nugent- Hopkins, David Perron. I think they’ve finally solved their problems in goal with Scrivens.
At the very least, I thought the Oilers would finish the season above the Calgary Flames.
I get the frustration of the fans who tossed their jerseys on the ice in the Coliseum (I know it’s name is Rexall Place, but I still use the name I grew up with). I have to say I agree with everything Scrivens said in defense of the jersey and the Oilers after the loss to the Flames.
I’m a proud owner of an Oilers Jersey. I still have the Bill Ranford and Kevin Lowe cards I waited four hours in line at West Edmonton Mall to get them to autograph in the early ‘90s. I get a new Oilers calendar each year, and no it doesn’t end in April.
Born and raised in Edmonton, I’m ever the optimist where the Oilers are concerned. I think the Oilers have solved their goaltending problems with Ben Scrivens and I think they will solve their problems at defence.
I can’t wait to see the Oilers finish above the Flames next year, but I don’t think I can get off this roller-coaster quite yet.
I guess I’m getting to know what it feels like to be a Maple Leafs fan.
