I've stated before in a previous post about how much I hate the Oilers. In case I didn't, I hate the Oilers. Again, this rivalry goes back to when I was even too young to appreciate hockey in general, much less the Jets in particular. My first Stanley Cup Final was between the Vancouver Canucks and New York Islanders in 1982. From 1972 with the establishment of the World Hockey Association until the WHA-NHL "merger" in 1979, the Jets and Oilers have been at war on ice. The Winnipeg Jets dominated the Oilers in the WHA era, winning three Avco Cups between 1976 and 1979; including the Wayne Gretzky-led Oilers in the last Avco Cup championship.
The Jets made five finals appearances, while the Oilers had that one. The Oilers had not one championship in the WHA to speak of, the Jets had three in five appearances. The Jets were the class of the World Hockey Association...until the "merger" (which was just an expansion that let the NHL take back all the players that defected to the WHA. Not only that, but all the former WHA teams, Winnipeg, Edmonton, Quebec Nordiques and Hartford Whalers, had to pay a $6 million expansion fee and picked last in the NHL's entry draft in 1979) Because of this, the once mighty Winnipeg Jets' roster was decimated and an embarrassing 20 win season resulted in the 1979-80 season. By comparison, the Oilers made the NHL playoffs in their first season. Perhaps an omen of things to come. The next season was even worse for the Jets as they were only able to protect two goalies and two skaters (the Jets chose to protect Scott Campbell and Morris Lukowich as well as goaltenders Markus Mattsson and later drafting Pierre Hamel) with the result being the Jets winning a paltry nine games all frustrating season long. This mark still stands as the second-worst outcome in history by an NHL team. Only the lowly 1975 Washington Capitals were technically worse, winning nine games, but ending up with less points than the 1981 Jets. So, we're not the worst!!
Maybe wearing the WHA throw-back jerseys will help stir up some historical good luck for the Jets and the hockey gods will come to their senses and realize, "Hey. Wait a minute. They're wearing those jerseys again? Well, the Jets have to win this one. What a shame to lose in front of 40,000 of your own fans to your most historically-hated opponent.
I'm fully expecting the Jets alumni game to go no different than other historic run-ins with the Oilers in the NHL. I mean, have you seen the alumni roster they have available? What has changed? Other than the Jets having Teemu Selanne in the line-up, what extra weapons will the old-timers have? However, as for the Hertige Classic game itself, I think CAptain Wheeler and company will do all right. I expect Patrik Laine and Kyle Connor to be in the line-up and to do well. I'm sure Mark Scheifele and Dustin Byfuglien will be firing on all cylinders as well. As will Brian Little and Nikolai Ehlers. So I say the Jets win 4-3. An overtime win would be a nice capper too.
