NHL Playoffs: Fifteen Goals and a Hockey Brawl

You should always give the audience what they want, and Milan Lucic followed the golden rule of entertainment just before the end of that crazy playoff game for the Calgary Flames against the Edmonton Oilers: He beat his opponent one-on-one from behind. Hit twice with a stick. Against the Calves, the generally recognized sign in the NHL, the North American Ice Hockey League, for the fight – and off we go.

Flames fans demanded their team see either a tenth goal – or a clean fist; And because that’s probably what Flames forward Lucic wanted, fans got it: nine goals from his team, six goals from the Oilers, and a brawl.

It was 9:6 at the end of the first game of this quarter-final series, called the “Battle of Alberta”, because the two Canadian state clubs are so hostile that the rivalry between Schalke and Dortmund can be described as follows. Is friendly and polite in comparison. In games, almost every game is viewed as a unique experience that makes you wonder if few commentators have ever experienced a believable or tangible game. However, this game was really: unbelievable and unbelievable.

Incredible NHL game between Edmonton and Calgary

The Flames made it 5-1 and 6-2 after only 51 seconds to lead 2-0; But then the Oilers showed why they were so intimidated and fans already at 6:2 demanded that they immediately watch their team score ten goals: it was not a joke or arrogance, but Oilers attackers Conor McDavid and Leon had pure fear. Draistal – and it was justified. McDavid met. McDavid and Draisaitl scored a goal together. Meet Draistal. McDavid and Draisaitl worked together again. It was suddenly 6:6 at the start of the last third, question: what else will happen in this game?

A reliable forecast was as impossible as later analysis – except: two teams play with open visors and without cover because they don’t care how many goals they concede as long as they score more goals than the others. Huh. These are two clubs that view defensiveness as optional and therefore make for a spectacle, whereas self-created entertainments such as the foam bat game of wrestling or the All-Star Game in basketball seem boring.

The Oilers had already provided unbelievable and unbelievable entertainment in the first playoff round against the Los Angeles Kings, with coach Jay Woodcroft warning after two consecutive wins: “It’s not 14-2 after these two games, it’s 2.” is -0.” Now he will tell his players before the second game on Friday that the score is not 6:9, but 0:1.

The Oilers are hoping the best-of-seven series will continue to heal Dreitel’s ankle and create even more spectacle than ever before. If this trend continues, they should be happy in Canada that every citizen has health insurance – the state of Alberta is badly in need of quiet drops.