OILERS PLAY THE SPOILER

Seriously, American Film Institute? Rudy is more inspirational than The Killing Fields? Come now.

Hope is a dangerous thing. The Edmonton Oilers had next to none coming into last night, now they have it.

So.... what's the story now? Is it the start of the Great Oilers Comeback, or a bump on the road for the Carolina Hurricanes, akin to Albert Pujols hittting a walk-off home run in last season's National League playoffs, only to have the Houston Astros wrap up the series in the next game?

If you're an Edmonton backer, you're probably marshalling your facts after the Oilers extended their season at least 72 more hours with a 4-3 overtime win last night. In two of Carolina's three wins -- the Roloson/Conklin game in the opener and Game 4 on Monday -- the contest could have gone either way. Of course, now Edmonton's won a game when it had the winning goal go in off a player's chest. And now tonight, with Fernando Pisani nicking the puck off Eric Staal's stick 3:31 into overtime to score the first short-handed OT winner in the history of the Stanley Cup final.

So either Edmonton got lucky -- here's where it will be noted that Ray Whitney hit the goal post with about eight minutes left -- or the first four games flattered Carolina and now the tide has turned. Let's point out that the loss leaves Carolina 3-3 in potential clinchers this spring. This team never does anything the quick 'n' easy way, but it's not going to let one setback derail them.

For those of you who think it was just a moment of inspiration by Pisani, who'd also scored Edmonton's first goal just 16 seconds, it's more likely Edmonton's coaches and scouts had picked up on some tendency in the breakout pattern Carolina uses on its power play. Like a cornerback in football, Pisani stepped in front of the receiver, and soon it was over.

Carolina should be -- stress, should be -- fine. Cam Ward's been level-headed enough to shake off bad games and benchings this spring. Cory Stillman, who made the ill-conceived pass, is the only Hurricane with a Stanley Cup ring (he was with Tampa Bay in '04), so he should know better than anyone else in this series that nothing can be taken for granted in the playoffs.

That lesson, apparently, hasn't been put into practice by Staal, who's scored or set up five of Carolina's six goals across the past two games, but was a mite too casual on the game-deciding play. Next time, Eric, cut toward the middle to make the pass shorter.

There's an argument to be made that Edmonton was perhaps fortunate to win after Ray Whitney rang a shot off the goalpost with about eight minutes left in regulation. On the other hand, you can make a case -- and some will -- that the first four games of the series flattered Carolina, which lost Aaron Ward and Doug Weight for significant portions of last night's game. As James Mirtle points out, Carolina has been nearly injury-free in these playoffs, something which can't be said of its opponents.

Here's what is for certain: only one team has ever overcome a 3-1 deficit in the Stanley Cup final (the '42 Leafs, who were down three-zip), and they sure didn't do it with a power play that went 2-for-32. Also, last night's loss left the Hurricanes 3-3 in potential series clinchers this spring. They have been through this in the last two rounds, and one loss isn't going to derail them.

OTHER BUSINESS

• The CFL looks royally stupid today. Francesca Dansereau, a 22-year-old amateur football official, accepted a job as a chain holder for Montreal Alouettes home games, only to have it rescinded "because they did not want women on the sidelines." Really? Then what's with the cheerleaders? What makes it even odder is that there are already a couple women doing the same job, and they had gone largely unnoticed -- just as officials are supposed to be, regardless of gender. Dansereau is promising to file a human rights complaint, and based on the story I read, it's hard to see how she won't win, hands down.
• Why can't Edmonton bury those 5-on-3s? Al Strachan explains.
• About those Blue Jays, 6-3 winners over Baltimore last night. Ask me again after Theodore Lilly starts today's 12:37 p.m. businessman's special. Incidentally, Tom Verducci of Sports Illustrated lists the Blue Jays' second base problem as one of the biggest trouble spots among contending teams. Sheet. I could have told you that.
• Deadspin can't get enough of bashing J.J. Redick.