Oilers vs. Ducks

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Everything worked out well.  I was a little worried about being tired and the timing because I wasn't able to fly until game day.  I was tired, but once I got to the arena, I got my second wind.  I arrived about 1.30, rented the car, checked in to the hotel, picked up my tickets and was off to the game.

Everything was great, except for the game!  The arena is really nice, much nicer than Nassau Coliseum, although I think they are about the same age.  The people in Edmonton were so freindly, everywhere.  It was a great town, I wouldn't mind living there, but I doubt I could survive a winter there.  It is the last big city in Canada before the great white north.  About a million people live there and its the smallest city in North America with its own light rail system.

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Everywhere in town you could see signs of Oiler fever.  Cars with flags, shops and houses with signs, even the buses that had digital signs had one that said "Go Oilers Go"

My seats were very good.  I was the first row near an aisle, so I had a clear view of all the action.  The people around me were nice, but we didn't talk too much.  I noticed how much of a family atmosphere it was.  Not that there were many kids there, but groups of people- guys and their girlfriends, old and young. the whole range was there.  And there weren't people behind me screaming and cursing and making people feel uncomfortable like I usually encounter at Islander games.

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Then the game started.  Edmonton had won seven games in a row prior.  The Western Conference Champions trophy was in the building.  But luck was not with us that night. We had a very bad 1st period.  A near come-back in the second brought the noise level to a fever pitch, but the Oilers gave up a soft goal and that was it.

After the game, it was still day light out.  The days are very long in the summer in Edmonton, which was pretty intersting.  I met a few people on the train on the way back and we went out for some steaks and beers.

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Luckily, I had planned on spending several days in Edmonton so I would be in town for the next game.