Well, it’s finally here. Game 1 of the Edmonton Oilers’ 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs run. The energy in the city is palpable, due in no small part because there have already been two full days of playoff hockey without the obvious best team in the league.
Now that the day has come, how should you, as an Oilers fan, approach the day? Well, if you are someone who doesn’t know what to do with their hands (like a certain L.A. Kings fan), this guide is for you.
Wear your Oilers Gear all day
Assuming you weren’t already sleeping in your Oilers PJs (which you of course have, you superfan you), then the first thing you do when you get out of bed is throw on whatever Oilers clothing and accessories you do have.
Have so many shirts/hats/jerseys that you can’t decide which one to wear? Layers is your answer my friend. Get as much juju as you can out of it. This is especially so if for whatever reason you actually aren’t able to visibly show your Oilers pride during the day.
Layers will also help battle any elements that may come your way during the watch parties (which we get to later).
Talk about the Oilers to Everyone
The first thing you say after hello to someone today (or maybe even before) is: “Excited for tonight?” They will either agree with enthusiasm or give you a blank look while asking you what exactly is even happening tonight. If it’s the former, you get to hype each other up to help you get through the day. If it’s the latter, then you get to make someone’s day because clearly they misread the calendar, and then you get to hype each other up.
Keep it up during the day, and by the time quitting time rolls around you should be absolutely vibrating with anticipation (or because you need to pee so bad from the many lunch beers you had after proclaiming “Well it’s game day, I’m not gonna be productive this afternoon anyway.”
Get to the Watch Parties or Arena ASAP
If you are wanting to go to the watch parties, then getting there early is a must if you want to actually get in. But beyond just getting a spot, the atmosphere of anticipation is electric. After all, at this point, there is literally nothing to be sad about. No games have been played, it’s a clean slate and so it’s just good vibes all around.
If you are lucky enough to be going to the game, if you get there early you can also soak in that atmosphere and get yourself even more hyped.
Plus, you can then load up on the cheaper food and beverages before you go into Rogers Place and have to take out a third mortgage (after taking a second one out to pay for the playoff tickets).
If you are not planning to try to worm your way into the Moss Pit or Fan Park and instead are going to watch at your local watering hole or with some buddies at someone’s home, this advice still applies.
Get overexcited about every little thing
Are you there watching warmups? Did Evander Kane just snipe a shot top cheese on the empty net? Clearly, his hernia isn’t bothering him and everyone clamoring that he should have been put on LTIR is stupid.
Did the Oilers fans scream-sing the National Anthem so loud it put the Canucks’ pitiful attempt to shame? Well, home-ice advantage is going to be huge for the Oilers.
Did the Oilers win the opening faceoff? That’s it, obviously, the Oilers will win. I mean we all know how important faceoffs are, right?
However, we live in a world with certain laws, and so we must obey Newton’s Third Law under this section as well (for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction).
This means that if the Oilers lose that draw? Game over for the good guys. A missed pass on a breakout? That defenceman or that forward (or both) don’t have their head in the game and should be immediately benched and scratched.
Yes, this means that this will be two and half or more hours of emotional rollercoaster riding, but that’s half the fun, no?
Get ridiculously overexcited over the big plays
If an Oilers play hits a Kings player, get absolutely jacked over it (especially if it’s Mikey Anderson). If When the Oilers score their first goal, jump as high as you can in joy and high five everyone and everything in sight (well, maybe not that cactus in the corner).
The playoffs are short, which means that every big play is even bigger and you should rightfully be more jubilant and exuberant than you would in the regular season.
Yes, this seems obvious, but for those of you who are a bit shy or worried about what other people think, this is your permission slip to go as wild and feral as you want (a friend of mine may or may not have described me as such during playoffs of years past).
If the Oilers win, celebrate hard (but not too hard)
That’s step one of 16 right there, meaning the Oilers would be 6.25% of the way to a Cup victory. Logic dictates then that you should celebrate 6.25% as much as you would if the Oilers won the whole thing.
That may sound like a minimal amount, but just think of how crazy it will would be when if they do win? Suddenly 6.25% doesn’t sound so tame now does it?
Just don’t go over too over the top over just one victory (*cough* Vancouver fans *cough*). Taking over 104 Ave since the City blocks down that street anyway? For sure. Staying a little too late in the Plaza after the game than you should considering it’s a Monday? Do it anyway, you can sleep when you die.
But chanting “We want the cup” this early? I don’t want to necessarily hamper anyone’s excitement (even to those Vancouver fans above I just made fun of), but you also don’t want to peak too soon. It’s a marathon, not a sprint—hopefully.
Ramping up after every victory keeps the playoff run fresh and exciting, and also will hopefully prevent burnout and fatigue (i.e. a cumulative hangover that finally gets to be too much). Take it from a guy who had to miss out on the celebrations for winning the Battle of Alberta two years ago because he got sick. Pace yourself, my friends.
If the Oilers lose, shake it off
Fun fact: The McDavid-era Oilers have only won one series-opening game, which was all the way back in 2017. In the last two years, the Oilers have won three series coming back from down 1–0, compared to losing two series. That math tells us that even if they lose, the Oilers have a very good chance to still come back to win the series.
Sure, fans of other teams will jeer you. But guess what? They did that those other times as well, and look how that turned out.
Plus, if the Oilers lose, that just means there’s another playoff game to be played, which means another fun night during the run. Cup half-full everybody.
Journal what you did during the day
We’ve all heard how important journalling is for one’s mental health, so I guess that’s one reason to do this.
But the actual really important reason is to make note of everything that happened during the day.
Why?
Well, if the Oilers win, then you must do each and everything the exact same way. Accidentally put your shirt on the wrong way at first this morning? Now you are making that mistake for the next two months (you are also wearing that shirt for the foreseeable future as well FYI).
Did you make a big sale at work? Well, that customer better have deep pockets, because he is making that exact same purchase on Wednesday. Drank your buddy’s chew can instead of your beer right before an Oiler scored? Well if it’s overtime, pound a bottle of Pepto Bismol and plug your nose, because that’s the only thing you are drinking.
If the Oilers lose, you do the opposite of the above. Never wear that shirt again, and god help you if you put another one on wrong again. Never talk to that customer on game day either. And don’t be a moron and keep track of your drink like a normal person.
Get ready to do it all again for Game 2
After all, it’s only two days away.
Let’s get Game 1 started!
Photo by Curtis Comeau/Icon Sportswire
