Playoff fever has official hit Edmonton as the Oilers open up the post-season Wednesday night against the San Jose Sharks with home ice advantage.
It’s been a long time coming for Oilers fans who endured a 10-season playoff drought. The last time the Oilers made the playoffs, in 2006, they went all the way to the Stanley Cup Final only to lose 3-1 to the Carolina Hurricanes.
Watch below: Former Edmonton Oilers goalie Dwayne Roloson, or “Roli the goalie” looks back on the ’06 Cup run. “The city just rallied around us.”
READ MORE: Edmonton Oilers make playoffs for 1st time since 2006: What’s changed in the last 11 years?
Needless to say, Oilers fans are excited and you can see it around the city. From car flags and decals to billboards and jerseys, Edmonton Oilers gear is everywhere you look.
The Edmonton Eskimos are fully behind the Oilers, cheering them on throughout the playoffs. The team took to Twitter to share a couple of messages of support.
Rick Jones has been an Oilers fan for decades. His house in north Edmonton is decked out with Oilers gear. The newest item on his lawn is an orange Oilers flag.
One Oilers fan even flew halfway around the world to see the first two playoff games.
Damien Ward, from Camden, Australia, received an Oilers hat as a gift from his sister-in-law about five or six years ago. He didn’t know anything about the team or the NHL at the time and didn’t do much with the hat but put it on a shelf.
READ MORE: Australian fan loves the Oilers so much he came to Edmonton for the playoffs
About three years ago, however, he decided to start wearing the cap, and watched his first Oilers hockey game.
“I’m very excited. I’m going to share in Edmonton’s joy and excitement of having their team in the playoffs,” Ward told 630 CHED’s Reid Wilkins.
“I’m looking forward to watching the Oilers come home with two victories.”
A display on a front lawn in Devon, Alta. drew the attention of some Oilers fans earlier this week, where a bright orange Oilers flag flies proudly next to three sharks hanging by their tails.
READ MORE: Edmonton Oilers fans shut down San Jose Sharks pre-playoff tweet
The mayor and members of city council are also getting swept up in the excitement. On Tuesday, Mayor Don Iveson declared it “Orange Crush Time” in Edmonton.
The Edmonton Oilers are using the slogan “Orange Crush” to promote their post-season, encouraging fans to wear orange and get loud to cheer on their team.
The Great One himself, or at least his statue, has joined the hype.
The first game of the post-season between the Oilers and San Jose Sharks goes down at Rogers Place at 8 p.m. Wednesday. The gates open two hours before puck drop.
How are you getting pumped up for the playoffs? Email your pictures and videos to Edmonton@globalnews.ca.
Watch below: Edmonton Oilers fans discuss their playoff superstitions
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