I love hockey. I am a huge fan of the Calgary Flames. I have been a season ticket holder. I have cheered them on from the days of Lanny McDonald, Willi Plett, Kent Nillson and Pat Riggin. I grew up hating the Edmonton Oilers. The battle of Alberta was fierce and back in the day, the mighty Oil had this kid named Gretzky leading the show. They would destroy anyone they played, year after year, much like the Red Wings have done for the past ten or so years.

A lot has changed though..

Gretzky hung up his skates and moved to Arizona. The Oil core has come and gone and now, the mighty Oil aren’t so mighty anymore. Last year the Flames played the Oilers six times. The Calgary flames won all six times. This year, the preseason anyway, we played them twice and again, trounced them both times.

Thursday night, was payback I guess. The new rookie core is in Edmonton and damn, did they come to play.

I lived in Edmonton for a short stint when I was rebuilding my life after living in the States. I was living there with this guy that I’d thought was my best friend but later I caught him stealing money right from my wallet. Just goes to show, you think you know someone… but that is another blog…

Living in enemy territory taught me some things about Edmonton. First, the girls are much easier than in Calgary. Homeless guys get laid in Edmonton, the girls are without many morals or standards apparently. I got my first stalker in Edmonton. A girl that worked at the gym I went to… I was hospitalized with a burst appendix, so I was gone for a couple weeks. She had been to my home looking for me.. which begs the question.. who the fuck are you and how did you know where I lived? (oh yeah, gym membership info… but still)

I learned the Oilers fans bleed Oil. They love their team so much more than Flames fans love the Flames. I hate to say that, but it’s true. Flames fans could learn a thing or two about the way Oiler fans look at their team. I was impressed, and now I don’t hate the Oil, I admire them. I’m still a Flames fan through and through, but you Oilers fans love your team something fierce, I like that,

The Oil won last night’s game 4-0. They shut out the Flames. Do I think they got lucky? Fuck yes. I can’t wait to play them again. Last year the Oilers were the worst team in the NHL. They lost more games than any two teams combined, they sucked that bad. So they got three or four new faces and now they’re a powerhouse? No. Not quite. Sorry Edmonton fans, you have another year of suck ahead of you.

You out played Calgary tonight, and you deserved the win. I tip my hat to Eberle, his drag move beat Kipper so bad, Kipper is still wondering if he got out of bed yesterday. He undressed him, badly. Everyone gets lucky on occasion, Kipper had a bad game, nothing more.

Did you see that fight where the new Flame Ivanson or whatever his name is, got his clock punched? A fight broke out, he was doing ok and then it went terribly wrong. The Oiler player landed two straight arm shivers and boom, lights out sweet prince. Dude was faaaaacked. I hate watching players get injured but damn, that was crazy.

To be fair, the Oiler is from Brock, Saskatchewan, the other guy is European.  Canadians know how to throw the fuck down, Europeans on the other hand… not so much, as the video shows.

For now, Trying to be Mighty Oil, you have my respect.. but let’s see how you hold up as the season progresses.

We’re going to kick your Oil asses next time we play you. Count on it!

The Penguins have won the 2008 Stanley Cup!!

Ok, so my headline is a little early. later today, game one of the best of seven takes place between the NHL’s two top teams: the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Detroit Red Wings. While the Wings are known for winning and always finishing atop their division in the West… I’m going to predict now that the Penguins, led by captain Sydney Crosby will take the Stanley Cup this year.

Pittsburgh will take the cup in seven games, although to be fair… my gut tells me they’ll do it in six. I’ll say seven to be safe. Neither team is a slouch, both deserve to be in the finals. Evgeni Malkin will win the Conn Smythe trophy, joining Wayne Gretzky, Bobby Orr and Guy LaFleur as the only players to win both the Conn Smythe and the Hart Trophy in the same season.

Game one takes place at 5:00 PST/8:00 EST.