That is the mantra in the Oiler dressing room as they prepare for game five of the Stanley Cup playoffs. Trailing the Carolina Hurricanes 3 games to 1, the Oilers find themselves in that ever popular must win situation.
In fact that is what they have to do in every game should they wish to hoist Lord Stanley’s Cup at Edmonton City Hall. No more second chances, its win game five, then game six and then game seven.
Of course before they need worry about those games six and seven, they need to take care of game five. It’s the chance for Carolina to win the ancient Canadian heirloom on their home ice in Raleigh.
The Hurricanes will want to avoid making a return trip to the Rexall Centre in Edmonton, so Wednesday night should be a fast paced match up as two teams desperate in different ways wage battle.
The Oilers feel that they’ve been the better team on the ice for the bulk of the series, but yet they still trail the Canes 3 games to 1. In the end it’s not who plays or thinks they play the best over the series, it’s who has the four wins that take home the Stanley Cup.
Wednesday night, the Oilers try to extend their playoff lives for a few more nights, history is against them however, it was the 1942 Toronto Maple Leafs who once upon a time came back from a 3-0 deficit to claim the Cup.
It’s not often that Albertan’s turn to Toronto for inspiration, but on Wednesday they’ll be studying their hockey almanacs and summoning up the ghosts of Stanowski, Apps, Godlham and Broda for a nod in their favour.
History seldom repeats itself and 64 years is a long time for lightning to strike again, but for the Oilers, they’re hoping for a bit of a storm over Raleigh Wednesday night, one bolt and they’ll be back on their way home for a game six and another shot a writing their own chapter in the NHL history books!
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