So we could put Esa Tikkanen and Mike Vernon where they belong in the back of our foggy memory bank. So we can chatter on today about the good Connor McDavid and the bad Jacob Markstrom — depending on whether you live in Edmonton or Calgary.
So Wednesday, 31 years and 34 days after the last BOA post-season game on April 16, 1991, we waited for this? The Oilers had six goals and still lost by three in the highest-scoring Battle of Alberta playoff game ever in 31 meetings. Until this one the record was 12 goals, when the Oilers pasted them 10-2 in 1983.
So, we finally get a sixth meeting between the clubs, starting at the Saddledome and we get an amusement park, roller-coaster ride screamer, nothing like the warm all over feeling when Tikkanen beat the Flames’ goalie Vernon as the Oilers fought back from three goals down in the first period in ’91.