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For the first time in five years, the Edmonton Oilers have won a playoff round. Not only that, but starting Wednesday night in Round 2, the team renews acquaintances with its biggest rival in the first Battle of Alberta since April 1991.
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And after three decades, boy, do we need this right now.
Sure, as Oilers fans who have endured the team’s Decade of Darkness, rebuild after failed rebuild, dubious trades and two first-round exits in a row — despite having the best player on the planet — we’ve paid our dues in spades to the hockey gods.
But there’s an even bigger reason why the return of this long-awaited playoff matchup is just what the doctor ordered after more than two years of COVID-19 with its unprecedented restrictions, the loss of friends and loved ones, the polarization and politicking, the impact on our jobs and education and the toll on our physical and mental health.
Naysayers may scoff that it’s just a game played by grown men, that there are more serious matters at hand like the war in Ukraine, inflation, the climate crisis, Alberta politics and homelessness. But after what we’ve gone through the last two years, this Battle of Alberta is like a tonic for the soul.
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Yes, the Oilers made two perfunctory playoff appearances during the pandemic, but watching them play on TV in eerily silent, empty arenas was simply no fun even if they had managed to win a few more games. As we’ve already witnessed during the first round, playoff hockey is meant to be experienced communally, at frenzied arenas, packed bars or raucous fan plazas or in living rooms surrounded by friends and family.
Let’s also not forget that these playoffs are more than a morale boost; they’re also a welcome shot in the arm to businesses like hotels, bars, restaurants and even Rogers Place all of which suffered financially the last two years, as did the thousands of people who depend on these workplaces for paycheques.
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Of course, with COVID still around, we hope that people don’t forget to take the necessary precautions and please stay home if they’re sick.
With that said, it’s refreshing that for many Edmontonians the C-word that we’re most fretting about these days isn’t COVID, but Calgary — and for Flames fans, it’s Connor. That’s something to cheer about no matter which side you’re on.
And while we’re talking about C-words, after we’re done with Calgary there’s the conference finals and the Cup. Let’s go Oilers!
Local editorials are the consensus opinion of the Journal’s editorial board, comprising Colin McGarrigle, Dave Breakenridge, Craig Gilbert and Bill Mah.
