Count Me Blue: Sweet Caroline-Aah! Still got the receipt for that Colt 45, Caniacs?

A Category 5 disappointment blew through Raleigh tonight, soaking the area with heavy tears of disappointment. Who's responsible? Hurricane Pisani, of the previously counted-out Edmonton Oilers. Zoom in and look at the faces of some of these victims. Priceless.

What a game. Win or lose for my Oilers, I really enjoyed watching it. Great stuff. Of course, I liked the end result a whole lot better. I knew when Chris Pronger scored 18 seconds into the first period and the Oilers scored with a little over a dozen seconds left in the first period that I was in for a wild night.

Kind of lost in all of the excitement of the win is the stellar play of Oiler replacement Goalie Jussi Markkanen. He played well in game 2, but in games 3, 4 and 5, he's been just about stellar. He's keeping them in games and making just about every clutch save. And when he's a bit off, Canes shooters have been just a bit off, too, clangin' posts or just missing the net. Hey, I'll take it. Jussi is playing like he's got nothing to lose, and really he doesn't; no one counted on him giving the Oilers a chance to win games, and right now, that's all he's doing.

I love the fact that the Stanley Cup Finals, and the feeling I get from the fact the Oilers are in it, is going to last through Saturday, at minimum. It's such an amazing experience and so much fun to watch.

Before I go to sleep with a big smile on my face, a few pictures from tonight's game. ...

Am I the only one who gets disturbed by men dressing up as women for sporting events? This picture is, uh, a little unsightly. It reminds me of those stupid asses who used to dress up for Redskins games (and a few of the losers who still do. Nevermind the fact that it was de rigeur about 20 years ago).

Um, yea Redskins fans, you look, uh, cool. Anyway, back to some snaps from game 5 Tuesday night. ...

In what turned out to be a preview of things to come, Fernando Pisani celebrated a first period goal. He'd have much more to celebrate a few hours later.

Fast forward to overtime. It starts with an Oilers onslaught, and that's just the way it ended. Edmonton came out to start the OT with lots of jump, outshooting the Hurricanes 7-0, but it all could have come crashing down about three minutes in, when Oilers D Steve Staios went off for tripping. Giving the lethal Canes powerplay a chance to win the Stanley Cup was about the last thing I wanted to see. But, then fate stepped in, or should I say Fernando Pisani did. A quick turnover found Fernando headed toward a one-on-one duel with Canes G Cam Ward.

Ward lost. Sweet shot, and sweet shot, too. Love this picture.

Oh, and for you history buffs? Your are looking at a picture of the first short-handed, overtime game-winning goal in Stanley Cup history.

Pack your bags, boys - we're headed back to the great white north! Ya heard?!?

Anyone who has visited this blog knows how much I love goal cam shots, especially when it's of an Edmonton opponent's goalie fishing the puck out of his own net.

Righteous!

I'll bet the boys are sleeping even better than I am tonight. But, there's lots of work ahead in order to get a chance to sip from the Cup.

Two sensational Canes players make their way off the ice; Eric Staal (above) and Cam Ward (below). Lots of hockey left to play, and both will play important roles for the Canes.

Ward (above right) is a strong candidate for the Conn Smythe trophy, but hopes for that trophy may be a bit dimmed after tonight's performance. Of course, no player on either team is worried about the MVP - they are all striving for the Cup.