Wednesday, May 24, 2006

Edmonton On Verge of Trip To Finals

Nothing is better in sports than seeing an underdog prove the naysayers wrong.
Many of the critics believed Edmonton would not deal well with prosperity heading into Tueday night's game.
However, it was the Anaheim Mighty Ducks unable to overcome the
high octane Oilers losing 5-4.
Toby Peterson opened the scoring for Edmonton in the first period before the run-and-gun team would score three quick goals to open the third period including a blast from hulking defenseman Chris Pronger. Anaheim trailed 4-0 at that point and saw a summer on the golf course staring them in the face. They quickly responded with goals from Sean O'Donnell, Teemu Selanne, and Chris Kunitz before Edmonton's Fernando Pisani put the game away.
The Oilers are now one win away from going back to the Finals for the first time since 1990. They have now won seven straight games in this amazing playoff run.
Edmonton basically got into the playoffs because the Vancouver Canucks and their Head Coach Marc Crawford had a meltdown. The Oilers got the eighth seed and dispatched of the very much favored Detroit Red Wings before beating the San Jose Sharks.
Now, one more win is all it will take for the Oilers to go back to the Finals. They can rest while the Carolina Hurricanes and the upstart Buffalo Sabres knock each other around in what will surely be a long series.
It isn't too clear what has happened to Anaheim since they have plenty of playoff experience with the Neidermayer brothers leading the team along with the great Selanne but right now they are a team completely deflated and look ripe to be picked.
Expect Michael Peca and company will be ready to finish off the Ducks in four games and not give them any life.

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