How Can You Watch the Edmonton Oilers in the Playoffs?
With the hockey season reaching the most exciting part, many locals are wondering how they can watch the action. Whether you think that the Edmonton Oilers are going to win the Stanley Cup or not, there are some important points to consider so you can decide how to follow the team.
Tickets for the First Round Have Gone on Sale
The 2023-24 NHL season was another success for the Oilers, as they clinched a playoff spot for the fifth year in a row. In fact, they claimed their postseason status on April 5, so we’ve known for a while that they’ll be playing in the season’s biggest and most pressure-filled games. Their season also included an amazing 16-game winning streak that went from December to February and set a new Canadian record in the process.
The first round will see the Oilers take on either the Vegas Golden Knights or the Los Angeles Kings. With the final regular season games coming thick and fast, their opponent might be sealed before you even read this, but the tickets for the first round games at Rogers Place had already gone on sale before their rival had been confirmed.
Some Edmonton fans have complained on social media about the price of the tickets, which went on sale on April 16. Prices have risen 25% compared to last year’s first round playoff entry price, with the upper bowl tickets selling for $283. That didn’t stop the tickets from selling rapidly to eager fans, but it makes us wonder how expensive the tickets will be for games deeper into the postseason stage.
How Far Can the Team Go?
The Stanley Cup playoffs begin on April 20, with the Finals set to take place in June. The Oilers have five Stanley Cups to their name but the last one came in 1989-90, so it’s easy to see why fans think that another win is long overdue.
Last season looked like being the chance to finally put another trophy in the cabinet, but even Connor McDavid, Ryan Nugent-Hopkin, and Leon Draisaitl all having 100-point seasons didn’t help. They fell to the Golden Knights when the teams met in the second round stage of the playoffs. Vegas went on to win the trophy, beating the Florida Panthers by four games to one in the Finals.
Can Edmonton go further this year and will you get the chance to see any of their games live? McDavid is once again having a fantastic season, and home advantage in the first round means that they’ll be favorites to progress. If we look at the current NHL odds, we can see Edmonton’s chances for the upcoming games. You can bet on them winning the Stanley Cup or take it one game at a time. Betting on Connor to win the MVP award ahead of rivals like Nathan MacKinnon and Nikita Kucherov is another option.
Are the NHL Playoffs Televised?
What if you prefer staying at home to watch the big games on the television? This article on the NHL website shows how heavily the league is advertising the coverage of this year’s playoff games. The selection of innovative adverts they’ve got lined up shows fans of different hockey teams and lets us see how these postseason games mean so much to enthusiasts across North America.
They confirm that the playoffs are going to be shown across a variety of channels this year, with the options in Canada listed as being CBC, TVA Sports, TVAS2, SN, SN1, SN360, and SN+. While we’re still waiting to find out the date and match-ups of the upcoming games, you can be sure that the Oilers will be shown on the small screen if they advance through the rounds.
The debate about whether it’s best to watch hockey in person or on TV is fascinating and there’s little doubt that most fans prefer to be in the arena. Feeling the energy of the crowd and getting a true taste of the speed and physical nature of this sport are among the key reasons given to explain why people prefer to be close to the ice. However, watching on TV certainly gives a different perspective and allows you to enjoy the commentary and follow fan reactions on social media. You might even decide to head to one of the city’s best bars to soak up the atmosphere and enjoy a mocktail or two as you watch.
Summary
While Oilers fans were right to point out the price increase for the first round games, there’s no doubt that there’s still a massive level of demand for tickets to watch the team in action. There’s no reason to miss any of the playoffs though, as you can catch all the action on TV if you’re not able to watch the games live at Rogers Place or any other arena the team is sent to.
