How 'bout them Oilers

If you didn't believe before, and I realize some of the NHL/OLN brass isn't happy, but Edmonton may be the team to beat in the Stanley Cup Finals. Having a Canadian team is good for ratings in Canada, not the U.S.

But having a #8 team 1 win away from the Stanley Cup Finals is a story. Dwayne Roloson, traded from Minnesota this season, getting his first chance to be a star in goal and playing lights out, is a story. The Oilers defense that stops the puck any way it can, including falling down, is a story. Ryan Smyth taking a puck in the teeth and assisting on the game-winning goal that night, is a story.

We knew Anaheim would have to do something different when the team got to Edmonton. After all, the Mighty Ducks haven't won in Edmonton since 1999. But the fights they started in the first period were shameful. I know fights are a part of the game, but the desperation on Anaheim's part was disappointing.

In the first two games, except for the empty net goals, Anaheim was only losing by 1. (Reminder to OLN, saying Anaheim lost both games by 1 is incorrect; empty net goals count too.) The games were close. So the Mighty Ducks could have tried passing better (that's been bad). But no, they went the fighting route. The good news is they weren't rewarded for their bad behavior.

There are reasons why Detroit and San Jose, two higher seeds than Anaheim, lost. Edmonton is good. Hopefully, Anaheim will realize the best way to beat Edmonton is to play better hockey. Besides, Edmonton is tougher than they are, anyway.

MEDIA NOTES

When I complain about the OLN's bias against Edmonton, I should note that comes mostly from the game announcers and not the guys in the studio. That said watching Game 1 from Windsor on good ol' Channel 9, Don Cherry included, fit like the last piece of a jigsaw puzzle.

(Translating that last sentence, CBET, Channel 9 in Windsor, is the CBC station. I stayed in Windsor over the weekend. As for Don Cherry, you have to see him to believe him.)

Unfortunately, we have seen the last of the CBC coverage. Too bad.