EDMONTON, Alberta -- The Oilers have found a place to hide
as they wait for the Stanley Cup finals to start.
The NHL's Western Conference champs are escaping to New York.
Edmonton has become too small for the Oilers, who have been idle
since winning the West last Saturday with a Game 5 win over
Anaheim. The finals don't start until Monday, and the Oilers will
be playing either at Buffalo or Carolina.
Needing a break from the fishbowl that the Alberta capital has
become, the Oilers are going to New York on Thursday morning. They
will hold two days of practice at a suburban rink in Greenburgh --
where the Rangers train during the season.
"There are a lot of distractions here with the players and
their families," Edmonton coach Craig MacTavish said Wednesday
after a vigorous hour-long skate, the Oilers' first hard workout
since they punched their ticket for the finals.
"We don't want to get stale in any one place."
The Oilers will finally find out on Thursday night who their
opponent will be in the best-of-seven championship series. The
Hurricanes will host Buffalo in Game 7, with the winner moving on.
"It's a great idea for us to get away," said Oilers goaltender
Dwayne Roloson, who leads the league with 12 playoff wins. "It's
nice for us to be here and enjoy the surroundings with the fans but
realistically we have a job to do."
The Oilers, who haven't been in the finals since 1990 when they
won their seventh championship in seven years, have picked up lots
of friends this week. Requests for interviews, autographs,
appearances and tickets have been pouring in as people have rallied
behind the team.
The rink is the only place they can go to get away. And one
that's far, far away is truly ideal.
"Get away from the mania that is here," said defenseman Chris
Pronger, tied for the team lead with 17 playoff points. "It will
help us concentrate on the task at hand."
MacTavish said getting caught up in the hype and not capturing
the Cup would be the ultimate disappointment for the eighth-seeded
club.
Edmonton is the lowest-seeded team to reach the finals under the
current playoff format. The Oilers stunned Detroit, the NHL's top
team in the regular season, in the first round before eliminating
San Jose and Anaheim.
"We are in this situation because these players are outplaying
the players that they are playing against," MacTavish said. "We
don't want to forget how difficult it is to have success."
The Oilers will have had eight days off -- their longest break
since the Olympics in February -- before meeting the Hurricanes or
Sabres on Monday.
"Now it's time to get back to work," Edmonton captain Jason
Smith said. "We are going to use these next few days to make sure
we are mentally ready."
By leaving early, the team will adapt to a two-hour time change
and can also get used to the humid air and skate-stifling slush
that passes as late-spring ice.
"We know the buildings are going to be warm," Smith said.
"This will give us time to adjust."