I write this post the morning after what may have been the single wildest rollercoaster ride a hockey game has ever taken me on. Buckle in because I feel like I have to summarize what we have been through as a family the last several days, especially last night.
So the first two games in Edmonton were pretty even, they each win a game in OT and the series is tied - probably what it deserved to be, even though I desperately wanted to be up 2-0. Anyway, the Oilers come out absolutely flat in game 3 - like possibly the worst I've seen them play this playoffs, with the possible exception of game 2 against LA. Yikes, hopefully they can turn it around in game 4. The first period starts okay, looks like some push back and forth, and then the Oilers get into penalty trouble - one minute 5 on 3 for them. They score almost immediately. They score again not long after on another power play (Tkachuk of all people, grrr) and things are looking pretty much the same as game 3. I'm thinking, it's only the first period, they can still regroup. Then Stetcher misses the puck behind the net, gets hacked in the head by I think Reinhart but no call, Reinhart sends it out front to a wide open guy and boom, it's 3-0. Going into the first intermission it's feeling so hopeless, Brian and I are looking at each other like they are going to lose this series in 5 games because they cannot do anything against this Panthers team! I hate to complain abour reffing, but they were calling every high stick we committed but somehow missing huge ones the Panthers were making (see their third goal, like WTF) and it just felt hopeless.
Nathan is coping hard up in his room but I make him come down and eat supper. He has strong emotions and we have modeled this big investment in the Oilers that he is running with. I'm proud of it, yet sometimes I wish we were a bit more nonchalant because he does not handle the adversity very well at all:-l. And come on, this playoff run up to this point, with the exception of the first two games against LA, there hasn't been a lot of adversity. They have been dominant. Enter the Panthers who know how to win in these moments and the Oilers seemed to be completely unraveling before our very eyes. Anyway, Nathan wasn't taking it well but I told him to stay and watch, this is the Final and you have to soak in all the moments. Nuge gets one on the power play and some hope is alive! They are looking like they have woken up a bit but I'm still very cautiously hopeful, still a long shot. Nurse scores such an unlikely goal not long after and the room erupts, can they do it?? Pods to tie it we are going into the third period all tied up! Crazy swing of emotions! Suddenly we are all hopeful, it all looks possible, apologies are made for things said in times of trial, it's all there.
Third period rolls around and we are still looking pretty good, we have gotten our legs back and are starting to intercept passes and block shots. I should mention that the Oilers put Pickard in net after the first even though it was clearly not Skinner's fault we were down 3-0. The team was awful, but it was a move to shake up the team and it clearly worked! He made some ridiculous saves to keep them at 3, wow. Anyway, Pickard did have to make some good saves but all in all the team was playing much better than they had in the first. With 6 minutes to go, Walman scores! Such an exciting development! Suddenly I'm thinking, we are actually going to win this game! They are doing a great job of locking it down, not giving Florida many chances, it's looking like we are going to hold on. Thirty seconds to go and they are in the neutral zone and we are feeling it like, we got this. But. We didn't got it. They set up an extremely dangerous looking play and boom, 19 seconds to go they tie it up. Anndddd just like that the mood in our house plummets, Nathan is devastated, Brian and I are trying to keep it together but it's soooo disappointing. I try and tell Nathan it's only tied, we can still win, but it's a big blow for sure. Oof.
Overtime commences. We are playing okay but Florida is looking dangerous. They end up with a one timer chance that looked certain to seal the deal for them, but Pickard gets enough of his glove on it that it redirects to the crossbar and stays out. We were all in shock, but still alive! With about 8 minutes to go, Leon gets off the bench and gets the puck from Pods right inside the blue line. He's fighting the defender and all he gets is a one handed shove on the puck trying to get it over to Perry to hopefully tap it in, but it never makes it to Perry. The defender trying to block the pass redirects it and it slides through Bobrovsky's legs as he is sliding over to try and defend Perry. It's in the net! WHAT!!! So freaking exciting, jubilation abounds in our house! Whew what a game! The series is only tied and there is still a good chance that we will lose, but the fact that they fought back and are giving this everything they have, it's a gift to all fans. Come on Edmonton!
What else has life been about lately? Why our oldest is graduating high school on Tuesday (in the afternoon thankfully, whew! Game 6 timing had me worried for a minute but it's all going to work out lol!) and she just finished up her exams. So strange that we have somehow successfully ushered a child through the entirety of her school career - and she's on her way to University in the fall with good grades and everything! It feels like quite the parenting accomplishment as well as an individual achievement for Lynsey:-). We found her a dress to go under her gown yesterday afternoon so I think she is all set for Tuesday. I know she is looking forward to closing this chapter of her life and there are great things in store for her!
