Author: Stephen Vani

Oilers fan in Toronto. Staying up past my bedtime for Western games since the mid 2000s.

After an Oilers Cup Final Heartbreak, What’s The Plan Now?

The days after hurt as much as the night of. Just like in 2006, a Cinderella story from the city of Edmonton ended in Do-Or-Die sadness. There’s still a lot to be proud of with this team. If you’d told me back in November when they were the second worst team in the league, they’d […]

Stanley Cup Finals Preview: Edmonton Oilers vs. Florida Panthers Game 7 | 06/24/2024

“Well, well, well. How the turntables” – Michael Scott It’s surreal how much can change within a week. I try to come across as being on the more optimistic side with some of my Hockey takes, but even I wouldn’t have expected this after how the series started. I felt the Edmonton Oilers would at least […]

Stanley Cup Finals Preview: Edmonton Oilers vs. Florida Panthers Game 6 | 06/21/2024

They kept their promise, and the last home game of the season for the Edmonton Oilers will be loud. Here’s hoping it won’t be the last game for them at all just yet. As great as Connor McDavid’s last two games were(and they really were), we all owe the other Connor an apology. The Oilers […]

Stanley Cup Finals Preview: Edmonton Oilers vs. Florida Panthers Game 5 | 06/18/2024

They live to play another La Bamba. But the Boston Celtics won the NBA Championship and denied the Dallas Mavericks their chance at making a comeback from 3-0 down. I hope that not too many Hockey fans are superstitious. The idea of miraculously forcing Game 7 is still the biggest mountain to climb when you […]

Stanley Cup Finals Preview: Edmonton Oilers vs. Florida Panthers Game 4 | 06/15/2024

I wonder if during practice, the players put on a famous speech scene from a sports movie to maybe pump them up a bit more. After Game 2, Connor McDavid said, “I look forward to people doubting us again.” Then after Game 3, he looked more shocked in his presser about the situation the Edmonton […]

Stanley Cup Finals Preview: Edmonton Oilers vs. Florida Panthers Game 3 | 06/13/2024

That certainly wasn’t a polite Game 2. I think every neutral fan should agree that officiating was questionable on both ends of the ice in Game 2, and I’m being nice when I word it that way. Leon Draisaitl throws a hit on Aleksandar Barkov that actually resulted in a cross-check to the face. Barkov […]

Stanley Cup Finals Preview: Edmonton Oilers vs. Florida Panthers Game 2 | 06/10/2024

Playoff luck giveth, and Playoff luck taketh away. As Connor McDavid put it, “Maybe it was the Hockey Gods getting us back for that Game 6.” You can be disappointed that his team didn’t open the Finals with a win, but you can’t be disappointed with how they played, aside from a couple of instances. […]

Stanley Cup Finals Preview: Edmonton Oilers vs. Florida Panthers Game 1 | 06/08/2024

That time off was the longest week of our lives, and it’s a continuation into the longest month of our lives. The vibes of 2006 have traveled to the year 2024. I’ve been playing Nickelback’s Saving Me at full volume all week long. Before I started typing up this piece, I revisited some of my […]

NHL Playoff Preview: Edmonton Oilers vs. Dallas Stars | Round 3, Game 6 | 06/02/2024

I was still nervous when it was 3-0 with half a period left, and I was still nervous when it was 3-1 with less than 5 minutes left. This season has given me an unmeasurable amount of PTSD. It’s been an interesting 5 years for Philip Broberg. A young defenseman prospect picked in the Top […]

NHL Playoff Preview: Edmonton Oilers vs. Dallas Stars | Round 3, Game 5 | 05/31/2024

Oilers fans find themselves feeling more confident after Game 4 as opposed to after Game 3. Going back to Dallas tied 2-2 is less stressful than if they’d been down 3-1. It takes 4 wins to advance, but 3 in a row? Against this team? Each one Do-Or-Die? Good luck with that. With Darnell Nurse […]