Edmonton 4 Carolina 3, OT: All it took was a sloppy excuse me pass off the stick of Cory Stillman, and Fernando Pisani was able to wrist a shorthanded tally past Cam Ward and send this series back to Edmonton for Game Six on Saturday night.
It's hard to overstate just how careless Stillman's attempted cross-ice pass to Eric Staal wound up being. There was simply no excuse for not snapping off a pass with authority.
As soon as the puck left Stillman's stick, you could see it didn't have a chance in Hell of reaching its intended destination, allowing Pisani to pounce on it and skate in on Ward unmolested for the game winning goal. Here's Stormbringer:
How 'bout that Cory Stillman? The one some of you were saying deserved a Conn Smythe more than Brindy, Staal, or (Cam) Wardo? Are your bells still chiming for that after that "magnificent play" Cory made in the OT?! I never really had him pegged for a potential Conn Smythe winner, and tonight certainly did not help in that regard.
Sisu Hockey has a slightly different view:
That's justice after a travesty of a call on Steve Staios. The 'Canes affinity for forwards on the point on the PP finally caught up to them, as Pisani picked Staal's pocket for the OT winner.
Would Bret Hedican have snapped an outlet pass with a little more mustard? Discuss.
Here's Covered in Oil:
I remember thinking in the third, "I wonder why Carolina never gets in trouble having only forwards on the Powerplay" and got the unexpected answer 16 seconds in Overtime. That and even one powerplay goal can make all of the difference we've been missing in this round of the playoffs (Hemsky cut to the net for once!) while Markkanen pulled out another serviceable game with some often accidental big stops. The team still needed lots of luck, but the Oilers game looked better this time at least, and like inmates condemned to abject hockey death, we fans get to live for another game. Huzzah!
The Acid Queen is up to her usual tricks. Ron Francis is worth a look today too.
Though the Oilers finally scored on the power play, there's a new idea floating around as to what Edmonton ought to do next to strengthen its power play. Thanks to Colby Cosh for that pointer.
Carolina leads series, 3-2.
I remember saying to myself that I was ready for bad, because I had a long day but I would stay up all night to watch an OT game in the finals. All of a sudden I see Stillman let go a weak dribbler in the midde, then Pisani had put it in upstairs before I knew it! I woke my wife up with a “YES!” and got myself that good ‘ol dirty look! Can’t wait until Saturday!
I love that one Canes dude grabbing his crotch in one of the crowd shots. Klassy.