Rather Worthwhile Hockey Game Tonight, We Think

We know we haven't been the most attentive observers of the NHL, like, at all this year, but we think even those involved in the running of the league would have to agree that it appears a wave has crested, and we're all going to need a while until the NHL excites us again. It happens. No one should fret; remember how little we missed the NBA? We can't imagine living without it now. Comes and goes, as they say.

Anyway, that's all moot now, because even the most ardent NHL naysayer has to find it difficult to ignore a Stanley Cup Finals Game 7. Despite the small-market matchup, we kind of think it's a perfect contrast: The Edmonton Oilers, a Canadian dinosaur franchise remnant from back when it was possible for a sports league to have a team in Edmonton , against the Carolina Hurricanes, in which the vast history of hockey — or, at least, ice — in North Carolina is revealed as, uh, lacking somewhat.

The real story, of course, is Edmonton's massive comeback from a 3-1 deficit, a result that seemed so preordained that magazines have already put out Hurricanes Win editions, which would be like "Dewey Defeats Truman" if nobody paid attention to presidential elections.

It should be a mighty fun night. What's that? Oh. We lost you at "hockey." All right: Here's a great Len Bias tribute video.

Edmonton Ready For Game 7 [Canada.com]