Read on Twitter
Normally I would put together a video Blog, but quite honestly, I don’t have the time (9-month-old is crawling EVERYWHERE) nor the desire (will get more into that later) to do so. Instead, please settle for this, my first (and likely last) twitter string. Or is it thread? 
I’ve been watching playoff hockey annually for 24 years. There has always been something special and sacred about the NHL playoffs, particularly living in Canada and cheering for a Canadian team. On game days, the upcoming matchup would be in the back of my mind ALL DAY.
From the moment I woke up, I was filled with a sense of nervous anticipation. By the time Ron MacLean began the pregame show, I had butterflies in my stomach. I was a jittery mess once the anthems were being sung. My emotional well-being hung in the balance with every play.
The joy of victory was indescribable and the agony of defeat was unbearable - just ask my sister Amy, who wanted to rush me to the Emergency Room when she thought I had developed a severe migraine one night in May of 1997… when really I had given myself a headache from throwing
such an explosive tantrum after the Avalanche eliminated the Oilers on a late goal by Adam Deadmarsh (See video)
These “playoffs” I experienced NONE of that. I even tried to manufacture some passion but it just wasn’t happening. I couldn’t get emotionally invested in the games. And I don’t just mean at a playoff-level. I mean at all. I got more excited and disappointed about many of their
regular season games this past season. I was even bored at times. Just to give you perspective - in Game #3, when the final buzzer sounded, I was shocked that the game had ended. I was paying such little attention that I was under the impression that there was still about
30 seconds left to play. 
I think there are two main reasons for this. First is the empty arena. I actually hate crowds, at least being IN one (there may actually be some undiagnosed agoraphobia there), but the lack of fans in the stands stripped the games of any atmosphere.
I think there are two main reasons for this. First is the empty arena. I actually hate crowds, at least being IN one (there may actually be some undiagnosed agoraphobia there), but the lack of fans in the stands stripped the games of any atmosphere.
It just felt sterile and empty - something that was magnified by the ridiculous hat throwing after McDavid’s 3 goal performance.
The other reason is.. It’s August. We normally don’t watch any TV in the summer (I actually try to cancel our cable every June but it’s lumped
The other reason is.. It’s August. We normally don’t watch any TV in the summer (I actually try to cancel our cable every June but it’s lumped
together with our internet so we don’t even save any money by doing this 
). We are outside biking, hiking, swimming, camping, etc. Sitting in front of the TV feels odd and incongruent with our living habits.
And here’s the thing - I think this is why the Oilers didn’t show up
). We are outside biking, hiking, swimming, camping, etc. Sitting in front of the TV feels odd and incongruent with our living habits.And here’s the thing - I think this is why the Oilers didn’t show up
to play in this series. They didn’t seem to be able to conjure up playoff intensity in the middle of the summer after 4 months off. This isn’t an excuse for losing - I knew this was going to happen to some teams (as it has with Boston), I just hoped Edmonton would not be one of
them. I’ve seen the Oilers get swept in the playoffs (Stars in '99), lose in 5 (Avs in '97/Stars in '00), lose in 6 (Stars in '01/'06) and lose in 7 (Hurricanes in '06/Ducks in '17). And despite the losses (some of them devastating) I thoroughly enjoyed watching all of those
series. Despite how much the Oilers have embarrassed themselves in the regular season over the years (and they have a LOT) they have always competed hard in the playoffs. They didn’t this year. I don’t buy into any of the narratives people are trying to create (questioning
McDavid’s leadership, the Oilers are soft, etc) to make sense of this. Nor do I read too deeply into the coaching mistakes, shoddy goaltending or poor defensive play that Edmonton put on display for 4 games. I truly believe that had the season continued on it’s unimpeded
trajectory, the Oilers would have finished 2nd or 3rd in the division, and had a long, gruesome battle with the Flames in Round #1 that everyone would have been talking about all summer. Instead, it was interrupted and they failed to get back into the swing of things when the
league picked back up. Think of it in terms of friendships. We all have friends who we do not see very often (especially since COVID). Some of them, even after years of being apart, the minute you get together, you pick up right where you left off.
Like you didn’t even miss a beat. Other relationships, when you finally meet up, it may be awkward and strange and it takes you awhile to get back into your groove. I believe this is what we just saw with the Oilers. In closing, I don’t feel any better or worse about the Oilers
future based on what happened in the last week (although Monday’s lottery could alter things dramatically). But I sure hope that the next time they play, games look and feel a lot more like normal. 
