KEEPING SCORE
The Oilers have 2511/2 playoff games on the books; it’s finally time to add to that tally
When Game 7 of the 2006 Stanley Cup Final came to an end, the Edmonton Oilers had played 2511/2 playoff games. (The half was for the 1988 night when the lights went out at Boston Garden in Game 4 of the finals).
The Oilers failed to win the team’s sixth Stanley Cup that night in North Carolina. But the hockey world still looked at Edmonton as being a spoiled-silly city.
While the Oilers had been in the league, they’d logged more playoff games than anybody. The Philadelphia Flyers had played 248 during that span and the Montreal Canadiens 245.
Rod Phillips had called all 2511/2 games in the broadcast booth. I had covered all 2511/2 in the press box. I’ve waited 11 years to break that tie.
The other guy in the rink who experienced all of them in a much more meaningful way — despite taking time away to win a sixth Stanley Cup as a New York Ranger — was Kevin Lowe. He either played, coached or has been Oilers general manager for all 2511/2.
Lowe is about to add some more games to his tally as the Oilers return to the playoffs after equalling the NHL record for most consecutive seasons without a playoff game at 10.
Lowe has survived half the population screaming for his dismissal during the decade of decline, deterioration, defeat and despondency, and is now in the role of vice-chairman of the Oilers Entertainment Group.
“When you’ve been away from it for so long, you appreciate it and reflect on it maybe even more,” Lowe said. “Maybe we took a lot of that for granted. I know the fans did. I mean, we had to work hard. We never took winning Stanley Cups for granted. But when you think about it — 13 straight seasons in the playoffs from the first year coming into the league. What new franchise has ever done that? “And then to win Cups.” Lowe isn’t looking back on those glory days as this new-era Oilers team proceeds to the playoffs for the first time in 11 years. He looks at the years when a young Edmonton team went to the playoffs for the first times.
Will this be like that first year in the NHL when the Oilers finished 16th overall and went against the No. 1 overall Philadelphia Flyers?
Or will it be like the following year when they started rookie Andy Moog in goal and went into the Montreal Forum and set the entire hockey world on its ear, sweeping the Canadiens in the best-of-five first-round series.
The playoff theme for the 2016 Oilers, illustrated by going to an orange uniform and fresh new identity, is to leave Oilers history in the rear-view mirror and focus on writing a new chapter.
But having lived it, Lowe can’t help but wonder what the comparisons might be from the first Stanley Cup playoff experiences in the 1980s to the first ones of this new era.
“That first year, losing to Philadelphia in the first round, is a bit of a blur,” said Lowe of three terrific games, including one in double overtime that had Philadelphia Flyers great Bobby Clarke predicting their fabulous future when it was over.
“But that second year, winning that opening series against Montreal, that is still very vivid.”
Will there be memories this year to rival those first two for Wayne Gretzky and the gang?
There were so many after that, in the glory years, of course.
“Winning that first Cup. Gretzky’s shorthanded goal in ’88. That one was hard to believe. Coming back two years later to win the fifth one without him in 1990 — that was important for all the guys on the team,” said Lowe, picking three off the top of his head.
In 2511/2 playoff hockey games with the Oilers, Lowe has about 1511/2 indelible memories. There was no lack of them in the 16 years between Stanley Cup Finals appearances.
“Some of the years that stood out for me after our Stanley Cup run was over, other than 2006, were those series we had every season against Dallas. We weren’t usually coming out on the winning end, but that hockey was as entertaining as you are ever going to find.”
“Going for Six in ’06” was different than the “Drive For Five” 16 years earlier.
It was Lowe, hitting home run after home run after home run, that made the moves to put that team together coming out of the lockout.
He stunned the hockey establishment by acquiring Chris Pronger and Michael Peca on consecutive days in the summer, then added goaltender Dwayne Roloson, Dick Tarnstrom, Jaroslav Spacek and Sergei Samsonov before the trade deadline.
Unfortunately, Pronger wanted out when it was over and it all came unravelled in less time than it took to come together.
“We knew it was going to take some time, but it should never have taken 10 years,” said Lowe.
It resulted in Lowe being moved into his new big-picture job.
“Kevin Lowe is one of the reasons I moved here,” said Oilers Entertainment Group vice-chairman and CEO Bob Nicholson.
“When you look at the history of the Oilers, (he) has had as much impact as anyone in this organization and it’s great to see him extend that 2511/2.”
Lowe said he’s loved every minute of it.
“It’s rewarding. I’m enjoying it a tonne. I still watch the games no different than when I played or coached or managed or was president. The losses still feel the same way and the wins feel the same way.”
It’s been different this year with owner Daryl Katz hiring Wayne Gretzky as partner and vice-chairman.
“I’ve watched a lot of games sitting with Wayne this year,” said Lowe. “He’s a little too nervous. He’s right into it. He loves it.”
Craig MacTavish doesn’t have all 2511/2 Oilers playoff games in his past. But he has the majority of them also as a player, coach and general manager.
It’s not easy to be replaced as general manager by Peter Chiarelli, but MacTavish chose to stick around in a supporting role to ride this race through to the finish line.
“It wouldn’t be easy for most guys. That speaks to his character. If you think back to the type of player MacT was, he was a selfless player. If he was asked to play first line centre, he did. If he was asked to play fourth line, he did. Whatever it took for the team to be successful. For Peter Chiarelli to recognize as well what kind of guy he is and why it’s important to have a guy like that, says something about him, too.”
MacTavish, in his new role as VP hockey operations, is no longer making final decisions, but he’s doing essentially the same work. He wanted to see this through.
“I’m a lifer for the Oilers. I’m an Oiler. My home is Edmonton. My family is Edmonton. It was really not a consideration to jump ship.
“Sometimes it’s good to get in the back of the canoe and paddle anonymously rather than be at the front of the canoe.”
For MacTavish, looking back at the entire ride, what happened in 2006 and the long wait to get to this day is very similar to that of Lowe.
“To me, my recollection of that run was just as much energy as I’ve ever seen from the Oilers fans in Edmonton. Even for the championship years — all the championship years, I thought.
“I think it was because of the unexpectedness of it. I think that really exponentially enhances the enjoyment for everybody when you get something you don’t really expect. That really made the run in 2006 something that really was special.
“And then some of the games were just incredible. The drama involved in so many of those games was just spectacular. Coming back in Game 6 against Detroit. Definitely Game 6 against Carolina where we just totally dominated the game from start to finish. There was just so much drama,” MacTavish said.
Now it’s time for another group of Oilers fans to have that experience.
“I’m just really happy for the organization and I’m happy for Daryl Katz and I’m particularly happy for Oilers fans,” MacTavish said. “It’s really great to have this for longterm Oilers fans who have hung in through thick and thin — and there’s been a lot of thin in the last number of years.
“We have this incredible new building and it looks like the team is going to be good for a while.”