Jeepers, it’s been a while. This was supposed to come out not long after my move finished and the Stanley Cup Finals ended (which was over a month ago now), but I got pretty distracted by other things. So, here’s a quick post on how things are going.

First off, my Oilers lost to the Panthers. Again. But unlike last time, where it was more of an “Aw shucks, at least they made it a series” sort of pain, this one just sucked. What do I mean by that? Well, even though by the time game 5 rolled around and the series was 2-2, which is basically a coin flip in most cases, there was just this nagging feeling deep within me that I believe was supposed to be a warning. A warning that the Oilers were really fortunate to even be in the position they were in, and that if they didn’t have a lead almost immediately, it was going to be a death knell for them. Let me explain.

In all 4 games up to that point, the Panthers had been the better team as a whole. They led for sizeable portions of game 1 (where the Oilers came back and won in overtime), the latter half of game 2 (where the Oilers came back and lost in double overtime), virtually all of game 3 (which was a total write-off, the Oilers lost 6-1 and looked horrific all game), and nearly all of game 4. I want to highlight game 4 because I went to a watch party at Rogers Place (the Oilers’ arena in downtown Edmonton) with some good friends, including a guy who came from Singapore of all places to go to the games in Edmonton. The Oilers went down 3-0 in the first period, and almost immediately we all thought they were dead. There was zero chance of them coming back from this, the Panthers were too good (which they were in all honesty), and we’d probably get blown out in game 5 as well. Well, the Oilers decided to pull the rug out from under those pesky Floridian cats and they tied it at 3-3 in the second period. They then got the lead with 7 or 8 minutes left in the 3rd, and then proceeded to let in a tough goal with literal seconds on the clock as the 3rd period winded down, which meant that we were going to overtime for the 3rd time in 4 games. The Oilers, in all honesty, should have lost that overtime. We got pulverized, so many chances for Florida and basically none for us. But we won, because we have Leon Draisaitl. German engineering never falters. I got my reaction to that goal on video, which I shall not share here.

Back to game 5. To save time, the Panthers were the better team the entire time, and the game was basically over after the 1st period. The Oilers lost 5-2. Game 6, which ended up being the final game of the series, was a similar scenario, except that until the second goal for Florida went in near the end of the first period, they were looking solid. But after it was 3-0 Florida, everybody knew it was just over. And it was. Florida, like their cross-state rivals in Tampa Bay, repeated as Stanley Cup champions in dominant fashion after making a mockery of the eastern conference and the Oilers for the second year in a row, and all I can really say is that there was virtually nobody else deserving of the Cup this year. Right now, there is a gap between Florida and everyone else in the league, especially since they were able to resign all of their key free agents, including Brad Marchand (who should’ve won the Conn Smythe but did not). Speaking of Brad, not only did he absolutely torch the Oilers in the Finals, but I also firmly believe that without trading for him, I’m not sure the Panthers repeat. I mean, they probably find a way anyways, but he was insanely effective for them. I know understand how Canucks fans felt in 2011 when he destroyed their team in those Finals, although I’m pretty sure I don’t hate him nearly as much as they do. I don’t even really hate him in general, he’s cool.

So, what’s the message I’m trying to convey here? Well, there’s two. Firstly, the Panthers are an incredible team. Nobody can take that away from them, and they will now attempt to be the first team since the 80s Islanders to threepeat. Can they do it? Yeah, probably. I don’t see how anyone beats them next year, barring significant injury or strange regression. Secondly, while my Oilers had some incredible moments throughout the playoffs and in these finals, they simply weren’t good enough once again. Not many people I know can say they’ve seen their team go to their respective Finals two years in a row like I can, but the fact that both of those trips ended so harshly just leaves a sour taste in my mouth. I highly doubt they will be back there again any time soon. I said that last year as well, but this time I really mean it. It’s a shame, really.

Now, in significantly better news, my move went very well and I’ve been really enjoying living in my new place for the last month and a bit. We have a really nice view of a nearby lake where a bunch of geese and pelicans have decided to claim as their home for the time being. Every morning now, I wake up, go out on the balcony and see a large white mass situated in the middle of the lake on a little island. That mass is all of the pelicans huddled together, like they’re discussing world domination or something. It’s quite funny, and I’ve even sat out there for a while just to watch them go about their days. It’s oddly peaceful. I’d also like to add that my family and I are all very glad that we sold our house when we did. I may have mentioned this before, but the cost of living was simply getting to be a bit too ridiculous for us, especially with incoming land tax hikes and the exorbitant amount required for heat in the winter. While we didn’t get as much out of the sale as we initially hoped, we still made out pretty well and are now living a lot more comfortably just a few minutes away. The cost of living here is also far smaller than at a house, which is probably pretty obvious given that it’s an apartment compared to a half-duplex.

As I get older, I care more and more about these things because eventually I’ll have to manage that on my own. I’m grateful that I still live with my parents and that they like having me around, because even if I was totally self-sufficient right now and had enough to buy a house for myself, I probably wouldn’t. I’m still ignorant of some things, and I’m learning them now instead of brazenly deciding to act like I know everything and going out and getting myself into trouble like so many my age do. Don’t do that, by the way. It’s not smart and it just gets you into binds you can’t easily escape from.

As for what I’m doing in my free time, it’s more of the same, although with a few changes. I’m generally eating better, and getting more exercise now that I’m so close to a park area. I’ve also taken some walks around the lake I mentioned earlier, and that’s been fun. I recently discovered that I suffer from high blood pressure, which isn’t great for my age. I’m going to be going to the doctor soon to see what I can do to minimize that, as it does run in my mom’s side of the family pretty badly. Despite that, I’m not afraid. It’s just another challenge in life that I’ll need to rely on the Lord for support, and that’s fine. Obviously this is something that can be helped with via my own choices, but prayer never hurts. I’ve also made good advances in my degree and am currently doing a set of courses based more around the history of journalism and radio broadcasting. While radio is a dying industry, there is always a chance I may start out at something like that once I start looking for work in sports reporting or otherwise, so it’s good to know what’s happening.

And with that, that’s pretty much all I’ve got to say for now. Asides from RIP Ozzy Osbourne. I was never a huge fan of Black Sabbath or anything relating to them, but he was an icon and he did have some pretty great songs. Crazy Train was always my favorite. My friend went to his last concert a few weeks ago and he had a great time, so good for him.

God bless each and every one of you, and I’ll see y’all later.