One of the best parts about facing another Canadian team in the playoffs is the fact that there is another, just as rabid, fan base on the other side. This allows for some good-natured ribbing and chirping, especially since being a Canadian team, you more likely than not know a fair amount of people who cheer for the bad guys.
But sometimes, it can be a bit aggravating, especially with certain fan bases. Usually, this would be the fans of your biggest rivals, or, if you are a fan of 31 of the NHL teams, the Toronto Maple Leafs.
For the Oilers, the biggest rival without a doubt is the Calgary Flames, whose fans we got the pleasure of jousting with two years ago in the playoffs. I have to say, that was fun, although probably more fun on the Oilers’ side after the lopsided 4-1 series win.
This year, the Oilers are hoping to beat another Western Canadian rival: the Vancouver Canucks.
If you have been on Twitter X for the last week or so, you have seen just how amped up the chirping has become between the two fan bases. This is likely because the series has been set for over three days, meaning that most everyone’s pre-series ammo has been used up.
It’s also because, frankly, Canucks fans have been pretty insufferable this year (which, granted, tends to be the case whenever a team unexpectedly has a great season). I’m sure they would say the same thing about Oilers fans, but they would be wrong.
So how do you, as an Oilers fan, deal with them? Wonder no more, my friend. Here is a handy guide on the potential scenarios you will likely face and how to respond to them.
“The Canucks won all 4 of the games in the regular season!”
If someone is bringing up the fact that the Canucks won all four games of the regular season series this year, one way to respond is the rational response that three of those games were at the beginning of the season when the Oilers were absolute garbage. And the last one was without McDavid, who I have been told is kind of a big part of the team. I.e. this is not the same team you beat.
You will likely receive a response back along the lines of “Uh well…they still lost four times, so it’s clearly gonna happen again!”
You have two options here. Sigh heavily and reiterate your previous point, or just ignore them like you would to an annoying toddler who keeps asking, “Why?” Like the toddler, they will say the same thing again a few more times, and then eventually leave you alone because they aren’t getting the attention they want and instead will go smash the nearest city thing in their vicinity.
“The Oilers are nothing without McDavid and Draisaitl”
This is an argument that Oilers fans have had to deal with since 2017, so I know you are already probably pretty well-versed. But let’s make it a little more focused for this year and this opponent.
Firstly, the Oilers had eight players with double-digit goals (three over 20 goals) outside of McDrai, and six players over a 0.5 point per game besides them.
In comparison, while the Canucks also had 10 total players with double-digit goals and five with over 20, they only had six total players over a 0.5 point per game.
The above is not to say that this means the Oilers are better, of course, but to show that either the Oilers lacking depth is a myth, or the Canucks also lack depth without even having the luxury of having McDavid and Draisatil, ergo the Oilers are a better team.
Of course, the response will be, “How many of those goals/points were McDrai involved in, huh?” I’m sure someone can do the math on that, but at the end of the day those other players still put up points, which means that the Oilers have scored goals, which usually means they won the game, so who cares.
Honestly, the best response is probably “You do realize your team still has to face the team with Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, right? Like, whether or not there is any depth, you still gotta stop them to win.” To which the response will be something along the lines of Nikita Zadorov, which is funny because they clearly did not watch when McDavid last played Zadorov in the playoffs.
“The Oilers haven’t won anything!”
Yup, this is a chirp that I have been seeing a lot lately, which is funny coming from a team that has never won a Stanley Cup.
“Oh stop living in the 80s! We mean during the McDavid Era!”
So let’s take a look at the Oilers since the 2015–16 season, shall we?
The Oilers are now in McDavid’s ninth season. They have made the playoffs in six of those years. They are currently tied for the sixth-longest active postseason streak in the NHL at five straight years.
“Well Toronto is at eight years, that means nothing!”
Fair point. We can’t exactly point to that without admitting we have been making fun of the Leafs for not being successful.
Well, unlike the Leafs, the Oilers have gotten past Round 1, for three years in a row in fact (which includes this year), good for second in the NHL.
During the McDavid era, the Oilers are an even 5–5 in playoff series (4–2 in the last three seasons, tied with Carolina for second most in the NHL during that time frame) and have made it to the second round four times, with one of those times going the Conference Final.
Granted, we haven’t won a cup in those 9 years, just like all but six teams in the league.
There’s also the fact that great players like Nathan MacKinnon, Steven Stamkos, Alex Ovechkin, and Steve Yzerman didn’t win their first Stanley Cup until their ninth season or later.
Of course, all of that will fall on deaf ears, but what can you do.
General tips for when your friend is chirping you
How you respond is also dependent on who is the person doing the chirping. You can’t (or shouldn’t) respond to someone on the internet the same you would to a friend.
So if it is your friend, you have a few options.
If it’s your best friend who is a Canucks fan that is chirping you and the above responses aren’t working, it’s time to play dirty. Bring up that ex that everyone hated, or the time they peed their pants at the bar. Obviously there is a line somewhere, but you can probably tip-toe on it. And if you happen to fall and cross it…I mean they’re a Canucks fan, how much of a loss is it really? (Note: to MY good friends who are Canucks fans, I am obviously not referring to you. Well most of you anyway).
If it’s just a friend or perhaps an acquaintance, try to be more joking about it and have a good-natured ambience around you. Unfortunately, since they are a Canucks fan, they will probably not be as good-spirited about it, in which case you need to get brushed up on your anger management techniques so you don’t do something you regret.
If it’s the person you are dating/seeing/we’re-not-putting-a-label-on-it-right-nowing, then go see a therapist to deal with your issue of not being able to see red flags.
General tips for someone you don’t know
No holds barred. They don’t know you from Adam, so let ‘er rip bud. (NOTE: The Oil Rig does not condone this advice and behaviour, and reiterates that this post is in jest and not to be taken seriously).
In all honesty though, at the end of the day, this is hockey and it’s really not that serious. Remember that this is all for fun, and let’s everybody just try to have a good time.
Unless you are an actual Vancouver Canuck. Then I hope you have a real bad time.
