Raleigh-Durham News Observer coverage of the Stanley Cup Finals
Edmonton Journal coverage of the Stanley Cup Finals
You know that feeling you get when you walk into a bar, someone throws a smelly burlap sack over your head, and then several large men begin beating you with softball bats? Well, me either, but that’s got to be about how the Edmonton Oilers are feeling after getting mugged in Raleigh, NC, last night. If you’d hung your hopes on the first period, you’d have been thinking that Edmonton, though down 1-0 to Carolina at the break, was still in the game. Unfortunately, that was about all the fight Edmonton’s dog had in it last night. For the last two periods, the Oilers were a step slow and guilty of taking too many stupid penalties. Giving up three power play goals when you’re in the process of being shut out is no recipe for success.
To make matters worse, the Oilers, usually considered one of the hardest-working teams in hockey, frankly got out-worked by a Carolina team who very badly wanted to seize a 2-0 lead in front of their home fans. The Hurricanes collectively have a few more bruises this morning, having blocked 24 shots to Edmonton’s 7. Clearly, the Oilers are a team back on their heels. In their defense, though, this is not the first time in these playoffs that Edmontaon has faced a 2-0 deficit in a series. With the series heading back to Edmonton for Saturday night’s Game 3, the complexion of these Finals could change in a hurry…and that’s why they play the games, eh??
GO WHALERS!!
