Three years ago today, Edmonton Oilers clinch first playoff berth in 11 years

It was three years ago on this fateful day that the Edmonton Oilers clinched their first playoff birth in 11 years.

Goals from Eric Gryba and Connor McDavid gave the Oilers a 2-1 win over the Los Angeles Kings on that March 28th. And most importantly, it signified the ending of the decade of darkness.

It was a long 11 years filled with some pretty low lows, but it was all for naught. All the years of watching jerseys thrown on the ice, billboards erected calling for the firing of certain Oilers management, a few top drafts picks and some god awful lineups.

Nearly any Oilers fan you ask would have great memories from those playoffs. Myself, it was all about being able to watch playoff hockey with my Dad for the first time in 11 years. God, that was a long time.

Edmonton squared up against the San Jose Sharks in the first round — a series that the Oilers won in six games. Tied after four games, Edmonton won a game five-overtime thriller in thanks to a David Desharnais winner, while game six on the road saw Edmonton sink the Sharks 3-1.

In round two, Edmonton didn’t have to go very far as they matched up with the Anaheim Ducks — a controversial series that would go all the way to seven games.

Edmonton was pretty much one game-five-pad-grab away from advancing to the Western Conference finals and honestly, who knows what could’ve happened.

All in all, seeing Edmonton get so jacked up for the playoffs was tremendous. This year has looked so good for Edmonton to get another shot and to see the season put on pause has been crushing.

On Twitter: @zjlaing