It’s my Parting Shot for the Stanley Cup final edition of The Fearless Predictor as well as one more explanation as to why I hope my pick will be wrong…..
Yes, you heard me right, I think the Edmonton Oilers will raise Lord Stanley’s mug sometime in the next two weeks. I wanted to erase the script and tape my mouth shut in writing and saying that, but white-out should never be used on a computer screen and you’ve been without me and my rants, many of which are unpopular – too bad – for the two weeks previous to this one!
I’m saying Edmonton wins in five games – heck, it might even be a sweep in four. Ugh!! I’m still amazed that this is only the fifth time that the same two teams have met in back-to-back championship series – and none of the previous four from the N-H-L’s Original Six era!
If Montreal were one of the two teams in this situation this year, I would’ve picked the Canadiens. But, the last two of these situations saw each team win a title which, in part, leads me to believe the Oilers are more hungry to finally win again than the Panthers are to repeat! I, also, believe that the time has come for two of the best five players in the game today – namely Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl – to have their names engraved on the Stanley Cup!
The one reason for Edmonton to win the N-H-L’s big prize that I will not subscribe to is the whole Canadian team bull turd one. The country where the city of the team that wins should have nothing to do with your allegiance to them! I mean I understand that the large majority of folks in Saskatoon and surrounding area became Oiler fans in the 80s – thanks to the Gretzky, Messier, Kurri, Coffey, Fuhr, etcetera, dynasty. I learned that in 1989 and 90 when I came here to cover Winnipeg Jets’ training camp! But, I almost threw up this morning when I saw a post on “Twitter” that had the C-N Tower in Toronto lit up in blue and orange Oilers colours! Oy!!
To me, no proud and self-respecting fan of the Winnipeg Jets, Calgary Flames, Vancouver Canucks and others – should ditch their dislike for the bitter rivals from Edmonton and cheer for them to win, just because they are from Canada and this nation hasn’t had a city win the Stanley Cup since 1993! I said it before, no proud and self-respecting Prince Albert Raiders’ fan would ever cheer for the Saskatoon Blades to win the Memorial Cup, just because they happened to be the W-H-L champion! Actually, those fans are saying no way in hades will the Blades ever win a W-H-L title!!
But, The Fearless Predictor is saying Edmonton in five, although I would prefer Florida in seven again!
That’s my Parting Shot. I’m Les Lazaruk…and it turned out nice again!
