Author: Stephen Vani

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

Edmonton Oilers Thoughts: Finals, Game 1

Maybe I’m biased, but has this NHL season had a bigger Next Man Up team than this one? No one ever roots for injuries, but before needing to fill spots left by Zach Hyman and Connor Brown, we’d practically given up on the idea of Jeff Skinner playing another Playoff game for the Edmonton Oilers. […]

Edmonton Oilers Playoff Thoughts: Round 3, Game 5

Happy belated 9th Birthday, Ben Stelter. Tuesday night’s win was for you. We’re just one win away from a second straight Finals appearance. We always wish Ben were still with us and imagine how joyful he’d be to watch the Edmonton Oilers in these Playoff runs the last couple of years. A really nice gesture […]

Edmonton Oilers Playoff Thoughts: Round 3, Game 4

Over the last few years, it’s been a running joke for Edmonton Oilers fans that an afternoon game is always a guaranteed loss for the team. A 6-1 victory is certainly no joke, however. At the same time, people were perplexed that the NHL would give a Conference Final game a 1 pm Mountain Time/3 […]

Edmonton Oilers Recap: Round 3, Game 3

The Edmonton Oilers return to Rogers Place for the third game of the third round after tying the series 1-1 at the American Airlines Centre. Game 2 ended with a 3-0 final score, Stuart Skinner recorded his third shutout in four starts. Roope Hintz, the top-line centerman for the Dallas Stars, was a game-time decision […]

Edmonton Oilers Western Conference Final 2025 vs. Dallas Stars

Edmonton Oilers Playoff Thoughts: Round 3, Game 2

The Edmonton Oilers, for a team that didn’t play any games for exactly one week, looked really good in the first and second periods of Game 1. There were no signs of rust whatsoever. They looked like they would take a 1-0 series lead in Round 3, just like they did last year. If only […]

Edmonton Oilers Playoff Thoughts: Round 3, Game 1

You know, Stu. Just when we think you couldn’t possibly allow any more pucks, you go and do something like this… AND TOTALLY REDEEM YOURSELF! This is what makes Playoff hockey so thrilling. Whatever you did in the regular season, whatever you did in the previous game, whatever you did in seasons prior, none of […]

Edmonton Oilers Playoff Thoughts: Round 2, Game 5

“I decided to play this position, so it’s completely my fault” – Stuart Skinner after the Edmonton Oilers Game 4 Nobody needed Monday night’s win more than the guy between the pipes. If you’re an Edmonton Oilers fan on social media, you know what I’m talking about. If you don’t use social media apps, bless […]

Edmonton Oilers Playoff Thoughts: Round 2, Game 4

Corey Perry held a Mother’s Day event for all of his Edmonton Oilers teammates yesterday. I’m sure all the mothers liked that better than the last-second present they got the night before. The Edmonton Oilers are still up 2-1 in the series, and they were due for a loss after six straight wins. It’s how […]

Edmonton Oilers Playoff Thoughts: Round 2, Game 3

“Death, Taxes and you being upset with the refereeing” – Edmonton Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch, a week ago. I’ve almost never talked about NHL officiating when writing my articles, because every hockey fan has the exact same feelings about them. Why bother repeating an argument that’s redundant and parodied leaguewide? In my view, we […]

Edmonton Oilers Playoff Thoughts: Round 2, Game 2

It takes four wins to advance, but the Edmonton Oilers historically lose almost every Game 1. In their last 15 rounds, including Tuesday night, they’ve won only four series openers. Even in 2006, they only won one Game 1. If you include that Playoff run, just for laughs, the record is 5 Game 1 wins […]