It seems only fitting to freeze frame that moment in time for the picture. I bet most of the hockey world is very happy about the result of the Oilers-GK series. Vegas has been annoyingly good ever since they came into the league. They were playoff contenders before the Oilers and Cup winners before the Oilers. Having been eliminated by Vegas in 2023, the Oilers had a score to settle with the Knights. They have now achieved that. Here's a list of what this means for the view of the Oilers as a team and how the hockey world perceives them.
2023 avenged, plus two dragons slayed two to go
I'm beginning to wonder if Vegas was working off of intelligence from their victory in 2023 rather than current intelligence. They didn't seem to have an answer for the Oilers unless they had an off night like in Game three, which is what ensured their lone victory in the series. At least now, everyone knows that the Oilers are playing in the big leagues. Last year, before the finals, they beat LA and Vancouver on the way to the third round, the latter of which, now we know, were just pretenders. It wasn't until the Oilers could vanquish perhaps their only equal to get out of the Pacific division in the playoffs that we knew they'd truly arrived. Now we know they have. It also means the job is half done now for the Oilers, a great milestone, but of course, it means there's more work to do still. Hopefully, the Oilers enjoyed this one for a day or so before getting back to work, regardless of whether they're going to play the Jets or the Stars in the third round.
The regular season means (bleep) all
I know I say this a lot, but I really can't emphasize it enough. Vegas won the division this season - but so what? The REAL trophy, the one every player REALLY wants, is the Stanley Cup. The playoffs are when heroes are made and zeros are exposed. All you have to do is get in, and then what happens after that is up to you. In 2006, the Oilers beat the Presidents' Trophy winners in the first round, this time, they beat the division champs in the second round. What happens in the regular season is meaningless unless you can elevate your game as a team and perform in the playoffs. The Oilers are now the lone Pacific team still standing, while Vegas will have to settle for raising a division champs banner in their home opener next season. If the Oilers win the Cup, you can bet Oiler fans will have a heck of a lot more fun raising their banners than Golden Knights fans. Winning in the regular season is meaningless, it's winning in the playoffs that matters.
Home ice advantage means (bleep) all
Having finished third in the division, the Oilers are unlikely to have home ice advantage in any series going forward. They didn't have it against LA in the first round, but they beat them anyway. They didn't have it against Vegas in the second round, but they beat them anyway - in Vegas, no less. The Oilers are more than capable of winning both at home and on the road, so it doesn't matter where they play, the Oilers will win more often than not. Home ice advantage only becomes critical when you get to game seven, and neither of the first two series got to game seven.