Ah spring. After a dreary winter, it’s finally the time of warm weather and longer days. It marks the start of patio season and also is a perfect time to travel before the high priced summer season.
Oh and it’s also the start of the NHL playoffs. You didn’t forget that, did you?
Mind you, after the terrible start to the year, no one would blame you if you didn’t factor in the potential playoff schedule. Heck, you probably booked that vacation because you were depressed by the team and needed something good to look forward to.
Or maybe you’re just one of many Edmonton Oilers fans who happen to live outside Edmonton for real life purposes where “but I can’t be in a different city than my favourite hockey team” is not an acceptable reason to stay (not saying I’m the latter, all I’m saying is I have a pretty good idea on what the looks you get for saying that are like).
Whatever the reason, you’re here now (or I guess, not here), but that doesn’t mean you can’t be a part of the run like you would be if you were present in Edmonton.
How does one do that? Well here is your handy little guide.
Don’t try to stay up to watch the games (especially if on another continent)
I know what you’re thinking, um, how does one follow the playoffs and take in the atmosphere if they don’t watch the games live?
Well, that’s not what I said. I just said don’t try to stay up for them.
While adrenaline might make it a bit more difficult to sleep early, do yourself a favour and try to get some shuteye before the early morning (or is it more of a late night?) game. Even if it is more along the lines of a nap than an actual night’s rest, it’ll probably be better than nothing.
Putting aside the minor reasons of needing to be a productive member of society the same day, the real reason to do this is so that you can be able to properly stay focused during the game. There’s nothing worse than slowly nodding off and being startled awake by a goal call and only being able to see the replay of the latest Connor McDavid magic. In that case, you may as well have just gone to sleep and watched a replay of the game.
You might say you can sleep for a few hours after the game ends before you have to go to work/school, but let’s be honest, win or lose, you aren’t sleeping. Either you’re giddy with happiness from the win and googling flight prices to make it back for the next game, or seething with anger about the loss and googling flight prices to make it back and throw things at the ref (because that is always the go to target).
Rep your Oilers gear as often as possible
In Edmonton, places of business start posting Oilers paraphernalia everywhere during the playoffs, and some people even get to wear jerseys to work on game days. All of that is part of what makes Edmonton such a fun place come playoff time.
Well, why not try to embody that spirit as much as you can? Who cares if you’re in a foreign country where people barely know what ice hockey is. Maybe if you wear the gear abroad you can manage to pique someone’s curiousity about the playoffs, which can help with the next point.
And if you are in a rival city, even better. I mean, what is a Calgary Flames fan gonna chirp you about when they didn’t even make the playoffs? Rub that wound with salt, my guy. And for those of you in Toronto, feel free to remind them that both McDavid and Leon Draisaitl have more playoff assists than Auston Matthews has playoff points, and even Evan Bouchard has a higher point per game in the playoffs than him. That will go over extremely well, I promise.
Force someone to watch the games with you
Whether it’s your spouse, roommate, a friend who knows nothing about hockey, that weird neighbour down the hall who probably isn’t a serial killer but, like, you wouldn’t be surprised if it turned out he was one, or bullying the local bar into playing it instead of the local sports team’s game, having at least one other person there to watch with you just makes the game that much better.
It may be a bit more difficult if you are on a different continent where the game is at an ungodly hour, but I believe in your persuasive abilities.
Blow up the group chat
Chances are, you are already in a group chat (or five) that talks about the Oilers fairly regularly. Sometimes those chats can be quiet during games, especially as things get tense and no one wants to miss anything.
But if you want to be a part of the action, you gotta make sure that that chat is buzzing. Send a message after each whistle like you’re a TV sponsor.
Alternatively, see if you can get a video call going so it’s basically like you are watching the game together (just be weary of time delays on feeds;nothing is worse than hearing a goal happen 10 seconds before you see it on your feed).
Don’t give in to the FOMO
I know it’s hard to not be there for the playoffs. Even if you can’t go to the games in person, just the vibes around the city are electric. And with the Oilers looking like a real contender, it is easy to feel like you are missing out.
But remember, you aren’t the only fan who isn’t there. You don’t have to be physically present to enjoy the playoffs. You can still get swept up in the excitement no matter where you are. Don’t let the “what ifs” and the FOMO ruin what is the most magical time of year for hockey fans.
And when you think about it, it’s actually a win-win. For the superstitious type, if the Oilers win the cup, then it’s because you weren’t there (although this then means you can never be present for a playoff run ever again…but worth it for a dynasty, right?). And if they lose, well you only missed out on a bit of fun and partying, not the end of the world right? Plus, it means that clearly you were the missing ingredient (putting aside all the other playoffs you were present for, because reasons).
And no, I was not telling this to myself in the mirror this morning to make myself better, and no I’m not in denial, because that’s a river in Egypt and I’m not a great swimmer.
Consume ALL the playoff content
If the games are at a weird time for you, then that means you probably have your whole evening before it free. Why not use that time to do something productive?
No, I’m not talking about silly things like cooking, cleaning, taking care of your children, etc. I’m talking about reading/listening to every word posted about the playoffs, be it on X, message boards, podcasts, or fan blogs. I’ve heard of this really good one called The Oil Rig, feel free to check it out.
Honestly, you’d probably end up knowing more than you would if you were in Edmonton, since that pesky job/school would have gotten in the way of you consuming that content during the day before the game.
Plus, this ties in well with the group chat, as you’d be able to engage all the time and really impress everyone with all your knowledge. Because everyone loves a know it all.
Get an actual subscription of some kind to watch the games
Look, I get it. Streaming services have basically just become cable 2.0 and the high seas are calling.
But the last thing you want is for a stream to cut out during a playoff game. I know this is going to sound like I’m a shill for the NHL or Big TV, but it is probably worth it for the two months or so to shell out some dough (if you can afford it) to get that security. *waits for NHL/Big TV to now pay me for being a shill*
Go full blackout so you can watch a replay without spoilers
No I don’t mean get blackout drunk (although, I mean, it could work, but we can’t condone that behaviour). What I mean is, in the event you just can’t wake up early to watch the games, then do everything in your power to ensure you don’t get it spoiled for you until you can watch the game.
Watching a replay of a regular season game when you already know the score is one thing, but a playoff game? The rush is not knowing what’s going to happen when the stakes are at the highest, and so if you know the result then what’s the point?
So turn off the notifications on your phone (hell, just turn off your phone completely), create your own Sensory Deprivator 5000, make some not so veiled death threats to everyone if they spoil it for you, or just become really productive at work for once to take up your focus.
Granted, this way you don’t quite get the community atmosphere that the playoffs bring, but you still get the personal thrill.
Bonus idea: create a separate group chat where you post your reactions and everyone else agrees to not spoil anything. That could be quite the entertainment factor for your friends to see your reaction when they know what is coming next (think of it like when you show your favourite movie to someone who is watching it for the first time). Also it gives them the ability to essentially re-watch/re-live the game (assuming it is one they would want to experience again).
Just go to Edmonton
Why try and create some artificial playoff atmosphere when we have modes of transportation that can get you to the real thing?
Is this the most financially prudent option? Almost certainly not. Is it even a feasible option? Probably not. Does it make any sense whatsoever? Well…
With the uptick of remote workspaces, maybe it would be possible for you to do your work in Edmonton. Or maybe you’ve saved up enough vacation/sick days. Or maybe you’ve been looking to quit your job and this is could be the push to make that happen Note: we at the Oil Rig do not condone this kind of reckless action and assume no liability for you to make such a major life decision and the resulting fallout.
If you could somehow make it work, then what is the difference between this and any other vacation/trip? What else were you saving those travel points for? Granted, given playoff ticket prices this may end up being the cost of multiple vacations. But, YOLO, amirite?
Photo by Brett Holmes/Icon Sportswire
