Well, I hate to say I told you so, but...I did predict that the Ducks would be roasted by the Oilers in this round. Since the Buffalo - Carolina series is tighter than Condoleeza Rice, I can at least say that I'm batting .500 already. Maybe, now, I can start being intersted in the Eastern Conference final (is it just me?).
Many will say that Edmonton was lucky to win this series in 5 games because they seemed to have been outplayed by the Ducks for some fairly long stretches. Early in the series, pundits were saying that the Oilers couldn't continue playing the way they were and expecting to win when they only dominated for 10 - 12 minutes per game.
Those people may be right, but I've always felt that too much emphasis is put on the offensive domination and not enough on the more well-rounded approach.
The Oilers were very tight defensively throughout the series and they had the best goaltending by far. Add to that phenomenal penalty killing and some very opportunistic offense and you have a recipe for success.
The Oilers now get a well deserved break to help their players get over the flu and the various upper and lower-body injuries that need tending to. Whoever faces the Oilers next will have to be ready for a team that will be hungry to bring the Stanley Cup to Canada after a 13 year absence.
Some random notes from the game:
Bob Cole and Harry Neale are horrible (FYI: Jason Smith and Ryan Smyth are not the same person), but they do have some good lines once in a while. Such as...
Finally, Who was the screamer in the crowd at the Arrowhead Pond? Every time the Ducks got close to the Oilers’ net, she shrieks. WTF was that about?Cole: Is that a beard or is Niedermayer eating a muskrat.
Neale: The Ducks PP is only working at 8.3%. I had two beers last night that were stronger than 8.3%.
Bring on Buffolina!
