Carolina Hurricanes won a nail-biter

Last night the Carolina Hurricanes defeated the rather injury-hobbled Buffalo Sabres to win the Eastern Conference. Well at least a division winner also nailed the conference title. Then again, it’s the third season in five it went to the Southleast Division. 
 
I will still be cheering on the Edmonton Oilers (I just realized this will be a Stanley Cup battle between two fomer WHA teams) because a Canadian team hasn’t won since 1993 (it’s their sport), their fans have been pretty devoted with or without Gretzky, they played some great hockey in the playoffs and (most importantly) it’s a team in a non-NASCAR market. I also despise most things associated with North Carolina since my year in exile there sucked. 
 
This time I feel a tad conflicted. Unlike the last time the Hurricanes went to the Stanley Cup (and got their asses kicked by the Red Wings), this team has players I like and respect: Mark Recchi (former Flyer), Rod Brind’amour (former Flyer), Doug Weight (key US player) and Justin Williams (fomer young Flyer prospect tossed away for a defenseman). This may be Mark’s last chance to win a second Stanley Cup, not sure about Brind’amour and Weight but I think they’re nowhere close to 40. 
 
I can only hope this championship will either be a 4-0/4-1 drubbing by the Oilers or at least it will be a seven-game challenge with close matches. I think the latter may be the outcome. The Hurricanes have depth and more experience. While the Oilers have more speed, grit, heart and toughness. Lastly, special teams have really mattered in the Oilers defeated all the higher seeds and it made the difference last night when Brind’amour hit the loose puck during the power play (the Sabres were mainly distracted by Williams). 
 
Go Oilers! Face off starts at 8 pm EDT on OLN. I plan to catch the first game at the Tilted Kilt. No, not for the waitresses. When it comes to the Cup, my eyes will be glued to their HD TVs with breaks to make sure I don’t spill my beer or pizza.