The Edmonton Oilers suffered a tough loss to the Colorado Avalanche on Monday night and have just one game left in their regular season schedule, then it’s the playoffs starting back up this weekend.
The Oilers punched their ticket to the postseason for the seventh straight year over the weekend, with fans able to buy tickets for the first round on Tuesday.
But who they face off against is still unclear. Their final regular season game on Thursday will provide more clarity as it’s their last shot at winning the division and the home ice advantage.
Fans are starting to feel the adrenaline rush of their Stanley Cup hopes, and dreams creep back in.
“It’s amazing. I watched the game yesterday, it might have been one of the best games I’ve seen them play in a long time,” said Bob Shewciw, an Oilers fan.
Kendal Saulteaux, another Oilers fan, says, “I’m just so happy that they’ve been able to keep doing it.”
Gary Poliquin, an Oilers fan, says, “Well, it’s exhausting, but it’s exciting too.”
Excited and ready to show their support, the burst of playoff energy from fans extends to businesses throughout the city, according to data from payment operation Moneris.
Last year’s Stanley Cup Final saw spending at businesses in the Ice District shoot up nearly 80 per cent, with an 18 per cent jump overall city-wide.
“It’s just chasing whatever’s been a hot item, or that we’ve been trying to follow up on, it’s trying to get it in as much as we can, and then as the rounds go on, the busier and more popular it gets,” said Noah Braz, a marketing manager with Sports Closet.
For those who sell jerseys, they are frantically prepping for the playoff rush, saying it’s a year-round task, noting they put in orders last year, saying it made them nervous when the Oilers were at risk of missing the playoffs earlier this year.
“It’s always nerve-wracking. Unfortunately, with the Oilers, it’s always been that rollercoaster of emotions the last few years, whether they start really bad or have a slump throughout the season, and then injuries going into the playoffs, they’re always jumping around the standings,” said Braz.
While we still don’t know what day the first home game will be, welcoming close to 18,000 fans into Rogers Place, with room for 8,500 more at outside watch parties, the Oilers say at this point, it’s a well-oiled machine, and they are ready with plans matching last year’s.
“It’s oil country, for us, we take it for granted, it’s an experience that you just don’t live in many pro sports in North America. Really fortunate, ready to do it again this year, hopefully, another two months of playoffs in front of us, and ready to celebrate with our fans,” said Stew MacDonald, the president & chief revenue officer of OEG Sports & Entertainment.
Still, businesses and fans say they’ll take playoff push problems any day over the decade of darkness without playoffs, hoping one day they can celebrate a Stanley Cup championship.
“Should’ve happened two years ago, but it’d be good for all of Canada,” said Poliquin.
Shewciw says, “I cannot believe the excitement that would happen in this city. It would be amazing.”
Saulteaux adds, “It would mean so much, I mean, even my dad has been a fan for so long, and hasn’t seen it for so long, so especially for the older fans, I know it would mean so much for everyone.”
The Oilers’ final match of the regular season will go down here in Edmonton against the Vancouver Canucks at 7 p.m. on Thursday.
The playoff schedule will be revealed once the last games are wrapped up.
Oilers fans watch Game 1 of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs in Edmonton’s Ice District. (Photo Credit: Siddi Chudal, CityNews)
