The legendary Ryan Smyth famously said in 2006, after the Edmonton Oilers fell behind the San Jose Sharks two games to zero in the Western Conference Semi-Final, “Wait until they get back to Edmonton. They’ve seen nothing yet.” Having been the eighth seed in the West for the 2006 playoffs and already overcoming the mighty Detroit Red Wings in the previous round, nobody would have faulted the Oilers for falling short against a San Jose squad featuring the likes of Joe Thornton, Patrick Marleau, and 50-goal scorer Jonathan Cheechoo. Yet, home ice was all the Oilers needed to turn the series around, as they would win four straight, including a road Game 5 at the then-HP Pavilion. Throughout Oilers history, but especially in the post-lockout era, there’s been a magic aura about the Oilers’ home-ice advantage. The playoff games at what was then known as Rexall Place were deafening in terms of volume, and even with a newer, bigger Rogers Place now being the Oilers’ stomping grounds, the advantage the Oilers enjoy ranks among the best in the entire NHL. Let’s take a look at every playoff run the Oilers have had in the post-lockout era (excluding the one in progress, as it is yet to be fully determined), and study the impact, both on the home games themselves and overall momentum, the fans of Oil Country have on a playoff series. Since fans weren’t in the building for the 2020 and 2021 appearances, those will be excluded as well. The 2006 playoff run that captivated the NHL The series before the aforementioned one against the Sharks saw the Oilers come out of two road games against the Detroit Red Wings with a split, and while Games 3 and 4 at Rexall also were split between the two teams, Games 3 and 6 are remembered for late-game heroics courtesy of Jarret Stoll and Ales Hemsky respectively. Round 2 was where, after two close victories for the Sharks on their home ice, Smyth made his remark about the series still having to be played in Edmonton. Smyth, of course, would set up Shawn Horcoff for a very critical triple-overtime winner in Game 3, and the Oilers didn’t look back the rest of the way. In fact, the Game 3 win was the first win of an 8–1 run that carried Edmonton through to the Stanley Cup Final. Like San Jose did, the Carolina Hurricanes also won their two home games to open the Stanley Cup Final series, but Edmonton would respond with a major Game 3 victory. After a Game 4 loss, Fernando Pisani scored his famous shorthanded overtime goal in Game 5 to send the series back to Edmonton once more. Game 6 turned out to be lopsided in the Oilers’ favour; then-Hurricanes Head Coach Peter Laviolette even admits the canes being forced into Game 6 was a “really tough moment.” The Oilers finished with an 8–3 home record during the 2006 playoffs. 2017: New building, and a major moment here and there Though 2017 didn’t see as much in the way of momentum shifts vis-a-vis Oilers home games, the individual games themselves proved difficult for both the Sharks and the Anaheim Ducks to win. The only game won by either team in regulation was Anaheim’s 6–3 win in Game 3 to get themselves back in the series. They needed overtime in Game 4 for a win, as did the Sharks in Game 1 of the first round. Game 5 against San Jose is remembered for what stands as the only home playoff overtime goal for the Oilers in the Connor McDavid/Leon Draisaitl era, with Draisaitl setting up David Desharnais late in the overtime period. Game six of the Anaheim series is remembered for the five-goal first period by the Oilers that chased goaltender John Gibson from the Ducks’ crease midway through it. 2022: More major moments, and the first series to shift since `06 The seven-game series versus the Los Angeles Kings in 2022 was pretty even, but the home ice advantage came through in Game 7. The Edmonton faithful cheered on Mike Smith as he recorded his second shutout of the series. Connor McDavid sealed the deal with his memorable 2–0 goal late in the third period that nullified any hope of a Kings comeback. The second round is where the home ice advantage of before once again seemed to swing things back into Edmonton’s favour. After a high-scoring Game 1 loss to the Calgary Flames and a rally for a Game 2 win, the Oilers dominated Game 3 and pulled out a clutch goal late in Game 4 to set up the eventual McDavid series-winner down the road in Calgary next game. And even though the Oilers would be swept by Colorado in the Western Conference Final, it’s worth noting even the Avalanche were kept in close Games 3 and 4, in Edmonton. 2023–24: Last year was a true rekindling of the Smytty quote The Kings have not won a playoff game at Rogers Place in regulation since that 2022 series, needing overtime for both a Game 1 win in 2023 and a Game 2 win in 2024. Otherwise, Edmonton has controlled play in their home barn the past couple of seasons prior to this one. The Vegas Golden Knights was able to get two wins in three games of the 2023 second-round. Vegas remains the only team since 2022 to accomplish the feat and being the only one in the past four postseasons to not need overtime for either of their two victories. The second-round series against the Vancouver Canucks was where “wait until they get back to Edmonton” was truly reborn, as the Canucks nearly blew a late lead in Game 3, surrendered a final-minute-of-regulation game-winner in Game 4, and were then blown out in Game 6, even getting Bon Jovi’ed in the process. The Game 5 home win that the Canucks earned still came with some dramatics, as the Oilers seemed to really rally back into the series from late in Game 3, onward. Against the Dallas Stars, the Game 4 rally from being down 2–0 gave the Oilers momentum that the Stars couldn’t swing back in their favour. And in the Stanley Cup Final versus the Florida Panthers, just like against Vancouver, the Oilers turned the tides in a Game 3 loss at home, and carried momentum all the way to halfway through Game 7, nearly pulling off a reverse sweep. The home-ice advantage is truly back now While individual games in 2017, 2022, and 2023 have had great stories of their own, last year’s run to the Stanley Cup Final really seemed to revive the famous quote born during their prior Cup Final journey. All four of the teams the Oilers faced only won a single game each at Rogers Place, out of three tries. And only the Stars’ road win came rather convincingly; the Kings needed overtime, while the Canucks and Panthers had to withstand Game 3 rallies by the Oilers that ultimately gave them momentum and pushed those series to their limits. We’ll see what the current run has in store, but it’s clear especially now: Rogers Place is a daunting venue for a road team to come away victorious from.