Waking Up With The Oilers- Wait Is Over For The Oilers And Their Fans

After a long wait, the Edmonton Oilers finally play a meaningful game. Since the Oilers clinched their playoff spot there wasn't worth playing for from the view of the Oilers and their fans. Yes, they had a chance to catch the Canucks for first in the Pacific, but that wasn't nearly as important as this game tonight will be.

Coming into game one against the Los Angeles Kings there is no doubt that on paper the Edmonton Oilers are favourites, but the Oilers have in the past lost games where they were favourites, looking back as close to the two games coming down the stretch where they lost 2 games to the Arizona Coyotes.

The good news for the Edmonton Oilers in the 4 games these two teams played in the regular season the Oilers' have won 3 or 4 games. Game 1 was on Dec 30, where the Oilers won 3-2 in a shootout. The second game was the one game the Oilers lost, but they did lose badly by a score of 4-0.

The Oilers then turned it around and won 4-2 and 4-1 in the final two games. In those two games, the Oilers look like and were the better team. I think in the final two games the Oilers figured out how to work around and beat the Kings' boring defensive style of game.

For the Edmonton Oilers to win tonight I think the easiest way to do it will be the get an early lead. This will cause the Kings to have to try and push the tempo, a game that will benefit the Oilers. If the LA Kings get the lead they will just plug up the middle and try and slow down the Oilers' high-powered offense.

If you are like me the playoffs for the Oilers is quite the emotional rollercoaster. No matter how the Oilers are playing that seed of doubt is always in the back of mind. A completely non-threatening play becomes life and death as every little thing is magnified. That is why I love it though and I am glad the Oilers' decade of darkness is over.