The SBP Archives - Your less than frequent dose of SBP!

The Edmonton Oilers shouldn't be where they are. In fact, they were pretty lucky to make it into the post-season in the first place, qualifying for the playoffs only after the Vancouver Canucks lost game #81 of the season. When the NHL season started, the word "small market" wasn't used when the Oilers boldly went after former Selke and Norris trophy winners Michael Peca and Chris Pronger, showing the fans the organization meant business and were willing to spend to put together a winner.

They were treated like rock stars when they were brought to Edmonton, however they soon fizzled once the season started. They looked rather ordinary, and the goaltending woes they had prior to the NHL lockout resurfaced. They addressed the problem by going after veteran keeper Dwayne Roloson from the Minnesota Wild. Rolly the Goalie didn't exactly set the world ablaze when he became Edmonton's #1 starter, and missing the playoffs seemed very probable.

However, all that regular season mediocrity has been erased. Peca, Pronger, Roloson as well as #1 centre Shawn Horcoff stepped up to the plate when it mattered most, and now Canada has a team to get behind after knocking out the San Jose Sharks in 6 games. Edmonton reaching the final four has now made it four consecutive playoff seasons where a Canadian team has made it at least as far as the Conference Finals. Can Edmonton pull it off and bring Lord Stanley back to Canada? Well, considering that every team remaining didn't even make the playoffs last time there was hockey, anything is possible. And currently having the loudest fans to cheer them on won't hurt them, either. But don't get too crazy...the riot police had to be brought in after the post-game 6 celebrations.